|
|
Browse
our Frontpage |
|
| Gas protests turn ugly in Bolivia
|
| Ali Burafi/AFP/Getty Images |
 |
| New measures regulating the extraction of
Bolivia’s oil and gas became law on Tuesday, increasing
government involvement and sharply rising taxes on foreign energy
companies. |
La Paz, Bolivia / AFP
05/20/2005
Female miners shout slogans during a hundred workers rally in La Paz
this Thursday, demanding the nationalization of Bolivian gas and oil
resources.
New measures regulating the extraction of Bolivia’s oil and
gas became law on Tuesday, increasing government involvement and sharply
rising taxes on foreign energy companies. Opponents to the government
of President Carlos Mesa however say the law does not go far enough,
and have organized protest demanding tougher measures.
The new law and returns legal ownership to the state of underground
resources, gives the government a say in gas and oil sales, allows
for annual government audits, and mandates companies to consult with
indigenous groups before drilling starts when gas is found on their
land.
In neighboring Brazil a spokesman for Petrobras, which owns one of
Bolivia’s largest oil refinery, said the company is “analyzing
the impact” of the new rules. |
| |
 |
 |
|
|
