Bolivia Takes Control Of It's Natural Gas
In a move that has more relevance to Ireland than might at first seem obvious, Bolivian President Evo Morales has issued a decree formalising his country’s takeover of its natural gas industry and resources.
The decree follows in the footsteps of a deal that was reached by Bolivia and the foreign energy companies, including Shell, operating in the South American country.
Under the agreement the state run energy body, YPFB, will become the majority share holder in the subsidiaries of foreign companies operating in Bolivia meaning that 82% of profits will be available for use by the government.
Bolivia has South America’s second-largest natural gas reserves but is also the poorest nation in that continent. President Morales has vowed to change that appalling fact by mobilising the country’s resources in the service of the population. He has described the natural gas move as “a historic event” in that process.
Welcoming the move, Éirígí spokesperson Brian Leeson made a comparison with the situation in Ireland -
“The nationalisation of the gas industry in Bolivia is clearly a step in the right direction if the people there are to lift themselves out of poverty and exploitation,” he said. “President Morales has shown great courage in the face of the economic imperialism of the so called ‘developed world’. Contrast this with the attitude of the Twenty Six County government which has sold off our natural gas reserves to multinational companies which will mean the people of Norway will benefit more from their exploitation than the people of Ireland.”
He continued: “The current manifestation of this policy is there for all to see in county Mayo where the government has pulled out all the stops to ensure Shell is unimpeded in its construction work despite the legitimate concerns of local people and the rights of the people of Ireland.”
“Meanwhile in the Six Counties, the British government is intent on a process of “privatisation by stealth” of the water service. Water is probably the most basic of human needs and as such the provision of free, high quality water should be a given within any modern society. The fact that the British government are attempting to introduce privatisation by stealth is a hugely retrogressive step which should be fought at every opportunity. Once again we can look to Bolivia for inspiration on how people power and direct action can stop the privatisation agenda as shown in the mass protests, centred on the city of Cochabamba that followed the attempted privatisation of the water service in that country
Items such as water and gas are not commodities to be sold to the highest bidder – they are resources that should be used for the benefit of the whole population. The people of Bolivia have set an example for anybody determined to put an end to needless poverty and deprivation, they have taken control of what is rightfully theirs and, inadvertently, posed a very meaningful question of Ireland.”
“Just think what could be done if we were getting 82% of the profit from our gas reserves?”