
Bolivia’s road blockades affecting construction firms

Bolivian construction firms are facing cost increases and delays as a result of two weeks of road blockades led by supporters of former president Evo Morales, which have caused estimated economic losses of US$832mn, according to the government.
“[The protests] not only prevent transport between east and the west Bolivia and isolate central cities, but also affect connections with the international markets of Peru, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, and the Pacific-Atlantic connection as well,” Javier Arze, head of Santa Cruz construction chamber Cadecocruz, told BNamericas.
Highways were blocked at 24 points on Friday, mostly in Cochabamba department, daily La Razón reported.
Construction suppliers' production has slowed since the protests began, resulting in price increases.
This has worsened other issues affecting the local construction sector, such as fuel scarcity and lack of access to US dollars, Arze said, adding that the combination of these factors is forcing firms to delay investments, which in turn is delaying existing projects and raising costs, as well as forcing local companies to assume more debt.
“Several companies have started to make transactions using Chinese yuan to meet their obligations,” the official stated.
COUNTER-PROTESTS
Some of those affected by the protests have begun demonstrations of their own to demand government action against the blockades.
In the city of Cochabamba, local truck drivers blocked an important avenue and the road in front of the departmental government building to demand a solution, state-owned news agency ABI reported.
Cochabamba is now facing shortages and rising prices, since all main roads linking the department with the rest of the country are blocked, the head of the local private companies' federation, Luis Laredo, told Bolivia TV.
Other counter-protests were also carried out in La Paz.
Morales’ backers are demanding the resignation of several judges whose terms were extended last year after congress failed to agree on a list of candidates for judicial elections.
These include the constitutional court magistrates that ruled last month that Morales cannot run as a candidate in next year’s presidential elections.
Because of this, the government accuses the former president of trying to destabilize the country to salvage his political career.
Subscribe to the leading business intelligence platform in Latin America with different tools for Providers, Contractors, Operators, Government, Legal, Financial and Insurance industries.
News in: Infrastructure (Bolivia)

Latin America's state lithium companies in light of a changing market
With state support, the lithium industries in countries like Chile or Peru are set to grow strongly, but certain pitfalls along the way could pose ...

Bolivia’s Arce under pressure to avoid new road blockades
The country’s transport chamber is demanding that President Luis Arce intervenes directly in several issues affecting the sector.
Subscribe to Latin America’s most trusted business intelligence platform.
Other projects in: Infrastructure (Bolivia)
Get critical information about thousands of Infrastructure projects in Latin America: what stages they're in, capex, related companies, contacts and more.
- Project: Network of Nuclear Medicine Centers and Radiotherapy
- Current stage:
- Updated:
10 months ago
- Project: Bus Rapid Transit La Paz
- Current stage:
- Updated:
10 months ago
- Project: Bridges RVF No. 26: Charoplaya, Chorondo, Black River and Achiquiri
- Current stage:
- Updated:
10 months ago
- Project: Construction of Peripheral Avenue of the City of El Alto (Sections I, II, III)
- Current stage:
- Updated:
11 months ago
- Project: San Ignacio de Velasco airport
- Current stage:
- Updated:
11 months ago
- Project: San Javier - San Pedro Highway
- Current stage:
- Updated:
11 months ago
- Project: Reconstruction of La Angostura - Comarapa Road Section II: Mataral - Mairana
- Current stage:
- Updated:
6 months ago
- Project: New Villa Tunari Third Level Hospital
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 year ago
- Project: Rehabilitation of the La Angostura-Comarapa highway: Section III, Mairana-Bermejo
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 year ago
- Project: Montero - Yapacani double-lane highway
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 year ago
Other companies in: Infrastructure (Bolivia)
Get critical information about thousands of Infrastructure companies in Latin America: their projects, contacts, shareholders, related news and more.
- Company: Connal S.R.L.
- Company: Navegación Aérea y Aeropuertos Bolivianos  (NAABOL)
-
The description contained in this profile was extracted directly from an official source and has not been edited or modified by BNamericas researchers, but may have been machine...
- Company: Alpes S.R.L.  (Alpes Consultora - Constructora)
-
The description contained in this profile was extracted directly from an official source and has not been edited or modified by BNamericas researchers, but may have been machine...
- Company: Construcciones Viales e Hidráulicas S.A.  (Convisa)
-
Construcciones Viales e Hidráulicas S.A. (Convisa) is a Bolivian construction company based in La Paz. The company is in charge of building Section I and II of the Montero-Bulo ...
- Company: VHOA
- Company: Asociación Accidental Fortaleza
- Company: Salco S.R.L.  (Salco Ingenieros Consultores)
-
The description contained in this profile was extracted directly from an official source and has not been edited or modified by BNamericas researchers, but may have been machine...
- Company: Asociación Accidental Salpes