On 16 March 2025, in El Alto (La Paz), a group of residents carried out a demonstration by blocking the Juan Pablo II Avenue, near Chacaltaya sector, denouncing gas shortage and demanded measures from the national government to address the scarcity.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing: Bolivia Gas Shortage Protests

1. Summary

On March 16, 2025, residents in El Alto, La Paz Department, Bolivia held peaceful protests blocking Juan Pablo II Avenue to denounce the gas shortage crisis. The protesters demanded immediate measures from the national government, with the current risk level assessed as low.

2. Supply-chain Impact

• Energy supply-chain vulnerabilities: Natural gas shortages within Bolivia indicate instability in the domestic energy supply chain, with potential disruptions to industrial production and household fuel supply
• Road logistics disruptions: Major road blockades in the El Alto region causing delays in logistics movement between La Paz-El Alto and concerns over reduced airport accessibility
• Social unrest spread: Risk of nationwide logistics paralysis and production facility shutdowns if gas shortage protests spread to other regions
• Regional spillover effects: Indirect impact on energy supply chains of neighboring importing countries like Brazil and Argentina if Bolivia's gas export capacity deteriorates

3. Watch Points

• Protest expansion: Tracking whether protests spread beyond El Alto to other cities and monitoring changes in intensity
• Government response: Monitoring specific measures announced by the Bolivian government to address gas shortages and their implementation status