When Fuel Becomes a Daily Battle

(A PM Orchards field update from the past several months)

If you’ve spent any time in Bolivia lately, you’ve probably felt it. Fuel has gone from being a simple stop on the way to work into a daily calculation, a time commitment, and for many, an emotional burden.

Over the past several months, gasoline and diesel shortages have shaped the rhythm of life across the country. Long lines became normal. Stations would run out without warning. People learned which corners of the city might maybe have fuel, and entire neighborhoods reorganized their day around the possibility of filling a tank.

The lines that rewrote daily life

At the height of the shortage, it was not unusual to see cars and motorcycles lined up for blocks, sometimes for hours, sometimes overnight, just to buy fuel. In some places, fuel was rationed. Limited liters per vehicle, restricted hours, or only certain plate numbers allowed on a given day. These measures were not just inconvenient. They created ripple effects everywhere. Work schedules, school transportation, medical appointments, food distribution, and public transit reliability were all affected.

Multiple reports tied the shortages to deeper structural pressures, including depleted foreign currency reserves and import constraints, since Bolivia imports a large portion of the fuel it consumes, especially diesel. For families living day to day, spending half a day in line is not a quirky inconvenience. It is lost income, missed commitments, and mounting stress.

A major shift under President Rodrigo Paz

Bolivia entered a new political chapter when President Rodrigo Paz took office. One of the first major actions of his administration was to move aggressively to resolve the fuel shortage. His government acted quickly to restore supply, stabilizing availability across much of the country.

However, addressing the shortage required confronting a long standing reality. For years, gasoline and diesel prices were heavily subsidized by the government. Those subsidies masked deeper economic problems, drained public finances, and created incentives for corruption and fuel smuggling. After decades of this system and following widespread abuse under previous administrations, the new government made a difficult decision. The fuel subsidy was removed.

The shock at the pump

The impact was immediate. Overnight, the price of gasoline and diesel rose sharply, doubling the price is has been for more than a decade. For families, transport workers, small businesses, and anyone who relies on daily transportation, the increase was painful. There is no way around that.

At the same time, many Bolivians understood the logic. Selling imported fuel far below its real cost was never sustainable. Someone always paid the difference, whether through debt, inflation, or shortages. Removing the subsidy was a hard but economically rational step toward stabilizing the country’s finances and ensuring consistent supply.

It hurt wallets, but for many, it made sense.

A new problem emerges: dirty fuel

As fuel availability improved, a new and deeply concerning issue surfaced. Reports began spreading of poor quality or contaminated fuel entering the system. Drivers across the country noticed engines losing power, stalling, and malfunctioning shortly after refueling.

Mechanics began seeing the same patterns again and again. Clogged fuel filters and injectors. Damaged fuel pumps. Fouled sensors and spark plugs. Reduced combustion efficiency and overheating. Modern engines, especially motorcycles and newer diesel vehicles, proved particularly vulnerable.

The problem has affected motorcycles, passenger vehicles, public transportation fleets, and commercial trucks. These are not luxuries. They are the backbone of daily life and the national economy.

Government authorities later acknowledged that poor quality fuel had been distributed, pointing to contamination and residue issues linked to storage infrastructure inherited from previous administrations. For many drivers, that confirmation only deepened frustration.

Protests and blockades spread

As repair bills mounted and vehicles sat disabled, anger spilled into the streets. Transport unions, drivers, and civic groups organized protests and blockades across the country. Their message was simple. If citizens are now paying the real price for fuel, then that fuel must be clean, reliable, and safe.

Road blockades and strikes have disrupted transportation and commerce, adding another layer of strain to an already tense situation. For many people, this feels like trading one crisis for another.

Looking ahead

Bolivia is at a pivotal moment. The fuel shortage exposed economic fragility. The removal of subsidies forced a national reckoning. The fuel quality crisis has tested public trust.

What happens next matters deeply. Transparent oversight. Clear communication. Accountability where mistakes were made. Practical solutions that protect both the economy and the everyday citizen.

For ministries like PM Orchards and for the families we serve, stability is not an abstract concept. It affects whether a student makes it to class, whether food reaches a market, whether a young adult keeps a job, whether hope feels realistic or fragile.

We are praying for wisdom for leaders, integrity in systems, and resilience among the people. Bolivia has endured many seasons of challenge. The hope is that this one becomes a turning point toward stronger foundations rather than another chapter of instability.