THE BOLIVIAN HIDROCARBONS NATIONALIZATION Probably the most controversial decission of the MAS (Movement Towards Socialism) government of Evo Morales for international investors is the so-called nationalization of hidrocarbons. The supreme decree 28.701 establishes the gas multinationals benefits of18 % so that there will be more resources for the country development. Despite having the second largest gas reserves of Latin America after Venezuela, the Bolivian population often suffers shortages of fuel, gas and kerosene at petrol stations. They also do not get gas distributed in their homes. The inhabitans of most of the territories where gas is extracted do not get fair compensations and many of them live in the limits of poverty. Thus, it is now very important to correctly decide how to distribute the restored wealth to the country among the population and their institutions.
Margarita X2 gas well from Repsol. This is the only well that is not extracting gas of the 5 that Repsol has in the Itika Guasu territory of the Guarani indians. At the end of 2006 Repsol leaders and Guarani captains are negociating for fair compensation for the original inhabitants of this territory.
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Workers of the Pride company, under subcontract with Repsol, arrange some pieces to transport to Camiri. They are closing the Isiri gas well from Repsol which is not going to be exploited in the near future.
MEH0081026x © Héctor Mediavilla
Catalina Flores is the mother-in-law of the Guarani Captain Macedonio Vazquez. The Captain has his own plant nursery. These plants are sold for 25 cents of a euro to the Repsol reforestation company that uses them to reforest the limits of the unpaved access road to the gas wells on the Guarani territory, where Repsol's Campo Margarita is located. She lives with her family in this adobe house with no gas or electricity.
MEH0081034x © Héctor Mediavilla
Two workers from Comproped, a company under sub-contract with Repsol, are working on the unpaved road that crosses the subtropical territory where the Repsol gas plants La Paloma and Suribi are situated. Workers are widening the road in order to bury the gas pipelines.
MEH0081122x © Héctor Mediavilla
Transredes is the company that distributes gas in the Bolilvian territory. There are many pipelines which are not buried so they are a real danger for the local population. Many inhabitants of Nuevo Horizonte community, along the Bulo Bulo - Villa Tunari road, ask the company to do so but they are not taken into consideration.
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The Guarani Captain Macedonio Vazquez and his family take care of their plant nursery. These plants are sold for 25 cents of a euro to the Repsol reforestation company that uses them to reforest the limits of the access road to the gas wells in the Guarani territory where Repsol's Campo Margarita is located. Locals, in some cases Guarani indians, are hired to reforest the areas that had been destroyed by Repsol when they made wider roads for the use of their vehicles. These workers are usually hired by subcontractors of the Repsol company so they have very low wages and can be dismissed any time.
MEH0081022x © Héctor Mediavilla
Chaco gas company workers are creating some conductions from the gas plant. Chaco and Repsol extract gas in the very rich area of the Carrasco province. All of the nearby populations do not receive gas at home.
MEH0081004x © Héctor Mediavilla
Locals, in some cases, Guarani indians are hired to reforest the areas that were destroyed by Repsol when they made wider roads for the use of their vehicles. These workers are usually hired by subcontractors of the Repsol company, so they have very low wages and can be dismissed any time.
MEH0081021x © Héctor Mediavilla
Two young women wash their family clothes at the Isiri river in the Puerto Margarita village. Only Guarani families live in this area that historically belongs to them. Despite all the wealth that Repsol gas company is taking from their territory these people do not have electricity or tap water at home and have very few job opportunities.
MEH0081020x © Héctor Mediavilla
A sign that alerts that a gas pipe line crosses the unpaved road that leads to Villamontes. Petrobras has half a dozen gas wells and many pipe lines in the Weenayek territory. The Weenayek indians live mainly on fishing, honey and cattle. They are negociating compensations with Petrobras for the use of their territory and for the environmental consequences.
MEH0081064x © Héctor Mediavilla
Street scene around the Sunday football match on the soccer field of Palos Blancos. This is the major enterntainment for the Palos Blancos population on Sundays. This village is the central point of the gas area exploited by Repsol in the Guarani indians' Itika Guasu territory. This little village did not have electricial wires until two years ago. Many workers from Repsol subcontracts who build roads or bridges or work at the Repsol plants of Margarita leave Palos Blancos every morning around 5am to work in the surrounding areas. Palos Blancos' citizens believe that too little is invested in this village considering the huge profits made by the gas companies from exploiting their territory.
MEH0081025x © Héctor Mediavilla
A Guarani family living in Puerto Margarita. They run a small restaurant that serves fish from the Isiri river. Neither them nor their neighbours have electricity or gas despite being in one of the richest gas territories of Bolivia where Repsol has the Campo Margarita exploitaiton. However, the APG (Guarani People's Assembly) are strongly negotiating with Repsol in order to get fair compensation for the exploitaiton of gas wells in the Guarani territory of Itika Guasu.
MEH0081031x © Héctor Mediavilla
Macario Segundo is the father-in-law of the Guarani Captain Macedonio Vazquez. Captain Vazquez has his own plant nursery. These plants are sold for 25 cents of a euro to the Repsol reforestation company that uses them to reforest the limits of the unpaved access road to the gas wells on the Guarani territory, where Repsol's Campo Margarita is located. Locals, in some cases Guarani indians, are hired to reforest the areas that were destroyed by Repsol when they made wider roads for the use of their vehicles. These workers are usually hired by subcontractors of the Repsol company so they have very low wages and can be dismissed at any time.
MEH0081037x © Héctor Mediavilla
Despite being the second largest gas producer in South America, Bolivia still faces gas supply problems. Quite often trucks filled with gas coming from Argentina are needed to supply the local population in the South of Bolivia.
MEH0081066x © Héctor Mediavilla
The so-called Yacuiba bridge is one of the South gates of the Villamontes village. This bridge passes over the Pilcomayo river which has suffered from oil spills in the last years. The river is becoming more polluted and many people that used to live on fishing, like the Weenayek indians, face a difficult future. The mountain range behind is the Aguarague "serrania", very rich in gas. Repsol's San Alberto camp has the largest gas reserves in Bolivia.
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Despite being the second largest gas producer of South America Bolivia still faces problems in the gas supply. Quite often trucks filled with gas coming from Argentina are needed to supply the local population of the South of Bolivia.
MEH0081125x © Héctor Mediavilla
Street scene early in the morning in the main avenue of Palos Blancos. This village is the central point of the gas area exploited by Repsol in the Guarani indians' Itika Guasu territory. This little village did not have electricial wires until two years ago. Many workers from Repsol subcontracts who build roads or bridges or work at the Repsol plants of Margarita leave Palos Blancos every morning around 5am to work in the surrounding areas. Palos Blancos' citizens believe that too little is invested in this village considering the huge profits made by the gas companies from exploiting their territory.
MEH0081014x © Héctor Mediavilla
A security guard in La Paloma gas plant of Repsol near Entreríos. This is the largest gas plant in the subtropical region of Bolivia. Security measures are very strict in this area.
MEH0081094x © Héctor Mediavilla
Transredes is the company that distributes gas in the Bolilvian territory. There are many pipelines which are not buried so they are a real danger for the local population. Many inhabitants in La Paloma gas camp of Repsol live surrounded by unburied gas pipe lines that transport high pressure gas. This family do the laundry in small river of this land full of gas.
MEH0081072x © Héctor Mediavilla
Petrol station that also serves gas for vehicules. About 33% of the Bolivian vehicules use gas fuel. Bolivia is the second largest gas producer of Latin America after Venezuela.
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Despite being the second largest producer of gas in Latin America, Bolivian gas is not pipelined into Bolivian homes. There are trucks that deliver every morning small Liquid Gas (GLP) tanks in the streets of La Paz. These tanks are rather dangerous to manipulate but are still used for cooking by most of the Bolivian population.
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Dominga feeds her daughter in their humble home in the Suribi camp area. Two years ago she lost her father and a brother in a gas explosion that could have been prevented if the security measures undertaken by Repsol had been more effective. Her mother has obtained a brick house next to this one from Repsol as compensation for their loss.
MEH0081123x © Héctor Mediavilla
A grandson of the Guarani Captain Macedonio Vazquez plays in his teenage sister's room, featuring a poster of Enrique Iglesias. Captain Vazquez has his own plant nursery. These plants are sold for 25 cents of a euro to the Repsol reforestation company that uses them to reforest the limits of the unpaved access road to the gas wells on the Guarani territory, where Repsol's Campo Margarita is located. Locals, in some cases Guarani indians, are hired to reforest the areas that were destroyed by Repsol when they made wider roads for the use of their vehicles. These workers are usually hired by subcontractors of the Repsol company so they have very low wages and can be dismissed at any time.
MEH0081038x © Héctor Mediavilla
Two Guarani boys watch TV through the window of a restaurant of the unpaved main street of Palos Blancos. This little village, at the centre of Repsol's Campo Carrasco site of gas exploitation, had electrical wires installed just 2 years ago. The local population do not have gas piped to their homes.
MEH0081039x © Héctor Mediavilla
Don César Aguilar, a Guarani indian who works for the Cerdet NGO that supports the Guarani struggle for their rights concerning the exploitation of their territory by gas companies such as Repsol. César looks from the top of a mountain range over the Itika Guasu territory, very rich in gas. There is a Repsol gas well, Campo Margarita X4, about 200 metres from where he is. Despite being in their ancestors territory they are not allowed to enter Repsol installations.
MEH0081019x © Héctor Mediavilla
Street scene of Camiri at night. Camiri has been one of the main points in the gas map of Bolivia for some decades. Near this little town there are many gas wells and gas factories from different companies such as Repsol, El Chaco, British Gas and others.
MEH0081013x © Héctor Mediavilla
A little dog watches a kerosene pump in El Tejar neighbourhood. There are many kerosene pumps like this one in La Paz, as kerosene is used domestically for cooking. Lately there have been shortages in the supply of kerosene and GLP so most days there is no kerosene for many families to cook with.
MEH0081146x © Héctor Mediavilla