Bolivia—another strike from the resources curse?
An IMF study fears Bolivia's gas boom could explode. It wants the government to change tack
Bolivia is under pressure from the International Monetary Fund to offer tax and other incentives to attract more foreign companies and speed up the exploration and development of new gas reserves before existing fields run dry. The IMF is also concerned at the country's fast-rising public debt as President Evo Morales's long-serving socialist government continues to spend heavily despite plummeting revenues from oil and gas exports. In its latest report on the financial health of one of South America's poorest countries, the IMF also expressed doubts about the long-term focus of state-owned oil company YPFB on "exploitation rather than exploration". It also has reservations about Bolivia's b
Also in this section
18 February 2026
With Texas LNG approaching financial close, Alaska LNG advancing towards a phased buildout and Magnolia LNG positioned for future optionality, Glenfarne CEO Brendan Duval says the coming year will demonstrate how the company’s more focused, owner-operator approach is reshaping LNG infrastructure development in the North America
18 February 2026
The global gas industry is no longer on the backfoot, hesitantly justifying the value of its product, but has greater confidence in gas remaining a core part of the global energy mix for decades
18 February 2026
With marketable supply unlikely to grow significantly and limited scope for pipeline imports, Brazil is expected to continue relying on LNG to cover supply shortfalls, Ieda Gomes, senior adviser of Brazilian thinktank FGV Energia,
tells Petroleum Economist
17 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 26–30 April 2026, will bring together leaders from the political, industrial, financial and technology sectors under the unifying theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All”
