Bolivia opposition wants higher-priced gas exports

[Judi Lynn]

Bolivia opposition wants higher-priced gas exports
CARLOS VALDEZ, Associated Press Writer
August 22, 2008 7:11 PM

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) - Bolivia's political opposition demanded Friday that the government charge more for the natural gas it exports to neighboring Brazil and Argentina.

Opposition leader Raynaldo Bayard called for export prices to be more than tripled to US$18 per thousand cubic feet. Brazil and Argentina now pay about US$5 per thousand cubic feet for Bolivian gas.

''We can't continue giving away our natural resources,'' he told allies in Bolivia's southern Chaco region, where the country's biggest gas reserves are found.

Brazil and Argentina depend on and even squabble over natural gas from Bolivia, which has South America's second-largest reserves. The poor, Andean country produces about 1.4 billion cubic feet a day - of which Brazil alone buys 1.1 billion cubic feet, or half the natural gas consumed by its booming economy.

Opponents of Bolivian President Evo Morales also resolved Friday to take to ''the warpath'' if he proceeds with plans to put a proposed new constitution up for review in a national referendum. The new constitution would empower Bolivia's indigenous majority, boost central government powers and allow Morales to seek indefinite re-election.

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