Thousands of miners brought La Paz to a halt on Wednesday, protesting a severe economic crisis fueled by shortages of fuel and essential mining supplies.
The miners, key to Bolivia’s extraction of silver, zinc, lithium, and tin, blocked major avenues, demanding urgent action.
The country’s shortage of hard currency has triggered fuel scarcities that have driven up prices and caused sharp declines in agricultural and mining production.
Honorato Condori, leader of Bolivia’s National Federation of Mining Cooperatives, highlighted the lack of diesel and explosives as critical obstacles facing miners today.
Bolivia faces multiple economic challenges that are interconnected.
These issues directly affect daily life, business operations, and national productivity.
Bolivia suffers a severe shortage of U.S. dollars, which limits its ability to conduct international trade.
The lack of hard currency restricts the importation of essential goods, including fuel and industrial supplies.
This shortage stems from reduced export earnings and capital flight.
The central bank’s limited foreign reserves have hampered efforts to stabilize the exchange rate, leading to tension in financial markets.