Bolivian gas and oil production rises

Production of natural gas and oil in Bolivia soared by 36 % and 19 %, respectively, in the first five months of this year, the National Institute of Statistics reported.
From January to May of this year, Bolivia produced 128.9 bn cf of natural gas, or 36 % more than in same period of 2003. Crude production, meanwhile, totalled 5.8 mm barrels, or 19.4 % more than in the first five months of last year.

Bolivia has the largest natural gas reserves -- 52.3 tcf -- in South America after Venezuela, and the Andean country's proven crude reserves total 907 mm barrels.
Bolivia exported $ 266 mm in gas and crude in the first five months of 2004, or 54 % more than in the same period the previous year.

The country is currently exporting gas to Brazil and Argentina.
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner is scheduled to meet with Bolivian counterpart Carlos Mesa to discuss the possibility of purchases of gas from La Paz.