Cooperatives exported $US1.1 billion metallic gold

Gold cooperatives exported in 2018 $US 1.1 billion of metallic gold, but only pay about $US 30 million for royalties. The main markets are India and the United Arab Emirates. According to the former mining authorities, the extraction of metallic gold is having a negative environmental impact.

Bolivia invites Brazil to continue implementation of the bi-oceanic train project

Bolivia sent an invitation to Brazil to continue the development of bi-oceanic train that will connect the Atlantic in Brazil with the Pacific in Peru, going through Bolivia. According to the Bolivian government, the invitation was sent to the government of Jair Bolsonaro, asking to name the authorities that will continue the dialogue with Bolivia and Peru. Brazil has not reply to the invitation but has asked more time to define their authorities.

European Parliament backed Juan Guaido as president of Venezuela

The European Parliament became the first institution to openly back Juan Guaido as interim President of Venezuela, siding with him against Nicolas Maduro. The institutions urged the rest of the Europan Union to proceed in the same way. On 2012, 2013 and 2015, Bolivia maintained a score of 34 in the perception of corruption; while in 2014 achieved its highest historical score reaching 35. However, the situation deteriorated by 2016 and 2017 with 33 in both years until reaching 2018 with only 29 points in the perception of corruption.

Another resignation in Bolivia’s electoral court

After the recent primaries in Bolivia, another authority resigned to the Electoral Court (TSE). Judge Dunia Sandoval send a long letter to the president of the Congress in which she denounced that it is impossible for her to continue working due to the change of direction in the TSE. Sandoval was with Antonio Costas one of the judges that opposed a new postulation of President Evo Morales and Vice-president Alvaro Garcia Linera.

Bolivia fell 20 places in global corruption perception

Bolivia fell 20 places in the Global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2018, from 112 to 132. The index - developed by Transparency International (TI), reveals that Bolivia obtained a score of 29, where 0 is the highest level of corruption and 100 is the highest score. On 2012, 2013 and 2015, Bolivia maintained a score of 34 in the perception of corruption; while in 2014 achieved its highest historical score reaching 35. However, the situation deteriorated by 2016 and 2017 with 33 in both years until reaching 2018 with only 29 points in the perception of corruption.

Bolivia’s government launched construction of the Mutún steel plant

The construction of the Mutún steel plant began after an event presided over by President Evo Morales. China´s Sinosteel will build the plant in the next three years. With an investment of $US 546 million, the government expects that the plant will produce a million tonnes of steel.

Bolivian state oil company will open offices in four South American countries

YPFB, the state oil company, will open offices in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Peru. YPFB's president, Oscar Barriga said that the expansion is part of the internationalisation plan of the company.

Bolivian natural gas loses importance for Argentina

A report published by La Nación hinted that imports of natural gas from Bolivia tend to lose prominence in the energy matrix of the neighboring country that supports its strategy in the rationalization of resources and greater local production of energy not only hydrocarbons, but electricity.

Hydroelectric Ivirizu plant to be delivered in 2021

The National Electricity Company (ENDE) pledged that the Ivirizu hydro project, which will provide 290 megawatts into the National Interconnected System (SIN), will conclude in 2021. The Ivirizu Hydroelectric Project is being built in the Carrasco National Park of the department of Cochabamba in a surface of 250 hectares with an investment of US$ 549 million.

Bolivia plans to export 120 MW of electricity to Argentina

The president of Bolivia's National Electricity Company (Ende), Joaquín Rodríguez, reported on Monday that, from the second half of this year, it is expected to start exporting electricity to Argentina, once the transmission line between both countries is established.