July 13, 2004

Abstract: (CPOD) Jul. 13, 2004 - Two key proposals in the five-question referendum on natural gas have the support of a majority of voters in Bolivia, according to a poll by Apoyo, Opinión y Mercado released by La Razón, ATB and El Nuevo Día. 57 per cent of respondents agree with the policy of president Carlos Mesa to rely on natural gas as a strategic resource to achieve a practical and sovereign access to

(CPOD) Jul. 13, 2004 - Two key proposals in the five-question referendum on natural gas have the support of a majority of voters in Bolivia, according to a poll by Apoyo, Opinión y Mercado released by La Razón, ATB and El Nuevo Día. 57 per cent of respondents agree with the policy of president Carlos Mesa to rely on natural gas as a strategic resource to achieve a practical and sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean.

Landlocked Bolivia has 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, a matter that is still a source of diplomatic tension between the two South American nations.

A binding nationwide referendum on the sale of natural gas—which was originally scheduled for Mar. 28—has been postponed until Jul. 18. Bolivia sits on the second largest natural gas reserve in Latin America.

On May 18, president Carlos Mesa introduced the five questions to be put to Bolivian voters in the plebiscite. The last query indicates that all proceeds from gas exportation would be used "mainly in the areas of education, health care, road infrastructure and employment." 61 per cent of respondents agree with this particular proposal.

Some labour unions favoured a referendum on nationalization, but the Bolivian government is not considering the matter to avoid any possible disputes with foreign entities.

Polling Data

Do you agree with the policy of president Carlos Mesa to rely on natural gas as a strategic resource to achieve a practical and sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean?

Yes	57%
No	27%
Blank vote	11%
Invalid vote	5%

Do you agree or disagree with Bolivia exporting natural gas within a framework that would fulfill the energy requirements of the Bolivian people, foster the industrialization of gas in the national territory, charge taxes and/or levies to oil companies and use the proceeds from gas exportation mainly in the areas of education, health care, road infrastructure and employment?

Yes	61%
No	21%
Blank vote	12%
Invalid vote	6%

Source: Apoyo, Opinión y Mercado / La Razón / ATB / El Nuevo Día
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews to 1,035 Bolivian adults, conducted on Jul. 10, 2004 in the cities of La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Sucre, Tarija, Potosi and Oruro. Pollsters gave each respondent a ballot similar to the one that will be used in the referendum, and asked them to mark it and place it in a ballot box. Margin of error is 3 per cent.