Bolivia Fuel Crisis Deepens as Tanker Drivers Strike

Bolivia Faces Fuel Crisis Amidst Tanker Driver Strike La Paz, Bolivia – May 21, 2025 – Bolivia is experiencing widespread fuel shortages due to a strike by tanker drivers. The drivers, who transport fuel from refineries to gas stations across the country, have halted operations, demanding an increase in their freight rates to offset rising costs. Long lines of vehicles are now commonplace at gas stations in La Paz and other cities. "The situation is critical," said one driver outside the Palmazola refinery. "We haven't had a fair freight increase in years, and we can't afford to keep working at a loss." Unitel Bolivia's report shows extensive lines of tankers at the refinery, illustrating the scale of the disruption. The drivers' protest highlights the vulnerability of Bolivia's fuel supply chain and the potential for wider economic consequences if the strike continues. While Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), the state-owned oil company, has yet to respond to the drivers' demands, the strike underscores the need for a swift resolution to avoid further disruptions to the fuel supply and the economy.