July 30, 2010. The total consumption of natural gas in Bolivia rose by 140 percent, from 181.09 million cubic meters to 434.48 million, among the first five months of 2009 and the same period in 2010.

   The report of the Gas Network & Pipelines National Management from Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) said that between January and May the domestic demand totaled 15.353 million cubic feet (PC), while in the same period last year totaled 6.399 million cubic feet. While the average daily natural gas sold in the domestic market rose from 6.6 million to 8 million cubic meters from January to May 2010, according to the Statistical Bulletin of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons.

   The industrial sector, including micro, small, medium and large companies, and transportation consumes the largest volume of natural gas, totaling 14.464 million cubic feet, according to the report released by YPFB. This is equivalent to 409.33 million cubic meters.

   Also, the domestic sector employed only 535 million cubic feet of natural gas. The volume corresponds to 3.48 percent of the total. While the commercial sector demanded 353 million cubic feet.