March 27, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Despite a long history of political opposition to the idea, most people in Bolivia would not mind selling natural gas to Chile, according to a poll by Captura Consulting SRL published in El Deber. 56 per cent of respondents would approve of doing business with the neighbouring country, while 37 per cent are opposed.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Despite a long history of political opposition to the idea, most people in Bolivia would not mind selling natural gas to Chile, according to a poll by Captura Consulting SRL published in El Deber. 56 per cent of respondents would approve of doing business with the neighbouring country, while 37 per cent are opposed.

Bolivia has the second largest natural gas reserves in Latin America, after Venezuela. Chile, on the contrary, faces a resource scarcity that forces the country to buy most of its energy from Argentina—which itself faces a shortage.

In 2004, landlocked Bolivia asked to use a Chilean port to facilitate the export of natural gas. Bolivia lost its only sea access in the 1879 war against Chile in which Peru sided with Bolivia, a matter that is still a source of diplomatic tension between the three South American nations.

In March 2006, Bolivian president Evo Morales declared: "I believe, although I do not want to commit to anything, that this is a good moment to return to the sea." Morales attended the inauguration ceremony of new Chilean president Michelle Bachelet. Chile and Bolivia have no formal diplomatic relations, but the two current governments have established a 13-point agenda of bilateral ties.

Bolivia has long said that selling natural gas to Chile is conditioned to regaining full access to the sea.

On Mar. 23, known in Bolivia as the "Day of the Sea", Morales said the country "will never stop fighting for sea access with sovereignty."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Bolivia selling natural gas to Chile?

Support	56%
Oppose	37%
Not sure / No reply	7%

Source: Captura Consulting SRL / El Deber
Methodology: Interviews with 1,073 adult Bolivians in La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, conducted from Feb. 16 to Feb. 20, 2008. No margin of error was provided.