The Dilemmas of Tariquía
Bolivia currently faces a critical economic juncture, forcing the government to choose between economic stabilization and environmental conservation. The discovery of the DMO-X3 well near the Tariquía National Reserve epitomizes this dilemma: while the potential 2 TCF of gas could provide vital foreign currency and energy security through exports, the project faces intense opposition due to its proximity to a protected ecosystem and indigenous lands. Ultimately, the situation suggests a shift toward a strategic energy transition, where new gas finds are exported to maximize revenue while the domestic power grid aggressively pivots toward renewable sources to reduce internal gas dependency.
Brief Yearbook of the Energy Sector
A review is made of the milestones of 2025 in the Bolivian energy sector—mostly negative—and pathways for reactivation are suggested based on DS 5503, amid the ongoing hydrocarbons crisis.
The (Discordant) Accounts of Christmas
Christmas is composed of various elements, but not all of them come from the same source. Luke narrates episodes that are unknown to Matthew and vice versa. Other elements have been added by later tradition. The article compares the accounts of Luke and Matthew and highlights the different motivations of the two evangelists.
Energy Transition or Energy Diversification?
Due to the reality of the Bolivian energy sector, various arguments advocate for an energy transition rather than mere “diversification” or a simple change in the energy mix, as the new Minister of Hydrocarbons intends.
Metaphysics and Physics Facing the Preferential Option for Matter
The article advocates for a balance between physics (which explains the “how”) and metaphysics (which seeks the ultimate “why”). A recent LHCb discovery at CERN potentially explains why, after the Big Bang, matter survived while almost no antimatter did (instead of mutually annihilating). Although the evidence remains preliminary, it strengthens the idea that the universe exhibited a “preferential option for matter” by breaking fundamental symmetries, keeping both the scientific enigma and the vibrant frontier between physics and metaphysics very much alive.
Energy crisis or hydrocarbon crisis?
With the imminent collapse of YPFB, some proposals to refound Bolivia’s largest public company are being analyzed and it is suggested that the opportunity of the hydrocarbon crisis be used to promote the country’s energy transition.
The Nobel Prize in Economics and the Role of the State in R&D
The Nobel Prize in Economics awarded to Mokyr, Aghion, and Howitt for their work on endogenous growth through “creative destruction” has sparked debate about the role of the state in research and development (R&D). Endogenous growth, driven by internal factors like human capital and innovation, contrasts with exogenous growth reliant on external resources. Creative destruction describes how new innovations replace outdated products, as seen in the evolution of cell phones. While the laureates advocate limiting the state’s role to protecting smaller innovators, examples like China’s state-driven R&D success and the U.S.’s public-funded military-industrial research highlight the state’s importance. In developing nations like Bolivia, the state should fund basic research, leaving application to efficient private companies to foster innovation and critical thinking among youth.
Sowing friendships
In this column I reflect on cultivating friendships throughout life. I prefer to visit friends rather than do conventional tourism, practicing hospitality and maintaining ties with people from different stages and countries. I highlight a talk about my late tutor, Bruno Touschek, in a school titled to his memory, rekindling meaningful memories and connections.
Francesco Zaratti
Born in Rome (1947), he has lived in Bolivia since 1973.
He was Sonia’s widower and is now married to Carolita. From his first marriage he has three children and three grandchildren. He also shares three other children and seven grandchildren with Carolita.
He is a physicist by profession and an emeritus university professor. For 17 years he directed the UMSA Atmospheric Physics Laboratory. It also deals with energy issues, privatizations, biblical exegesis and common life.
In public life, he has collaborated, between 2004 and 2005, with President Carlos Mesa, as an advisor on energy and hydrocarbons and Delegate for the Review and Improvement of Capitalization.