October 16, 2026. The Director of the Patria Vehicle Renewal Implementing Entity (EERV-Patria), Leonardo Velarde, announced that 15,000 conversion kits—up to fifth-generation technology—are expected to arrive from Argentina to transition public transport vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG).
“They are ready at a factory in Argentina to be shipped to Bolivia, where they will bolster the Patria National Vehicle Renewal Program—an initiative currently underway with the participation of various workshops,” he stated.
The Ministry of Public Works, Services, and Housing reported that the Patria National Vehicle Renewal Program began in the department of Santa Cruz, with buses arriving at workshops for conversion from diesel to natural gas.
“We have begun receiving the vehicles and immediately started the conversion process,” confirmed Róger Paniagua, Secretary General of the Chamber of Gas Conversion Workshops.
Converting an engine from diesel to natural gas takes five days. There are already more than 5,000 CNG-powered vehicles in Santa Cruz.
“We have over 40 affiliated workshops ready and prepared to begin installing these gas conversion systems,” Paniagua explained.
He noted that the conversion will result in significant savings for drivers: while a bus previously spent 300 Bolivianos (Bs) when diesel cost 3.74 Bs per liter, the same vehicle now spends only 135 Bs when running on CNG—less than half the cost.
