Latin America Bolivia ordered its military to seize natural gas fields controlled by foreign investors as the 100-day-old government of Evo Morales signalled it was putting into effect a campaign pledge to nationalise the sector.
Bolivia’s gas industry is dominated by international energy companies, including Brazil’s Petrobras, Repsol of Spain, Total of France, and BG and BP of the UK, and the decree is the latest sign of a hardening approach to foreign investors since Mr Morales’ election. On Tuesday, Repsol’s shares fell 2.2 per cent to €23.17 and the Spanish energy giant expressed concern over the Bolivian move.
