María Eugenia Mosciaro G – Director
I recently came across an article on LinkedIn that reminded me how, twenty years ago, Bolivia boasted the most modern SCADA room in South America. From Santa Cruz, thousands of kilometers of gas and oil pipelines operated by Transredes (now YPFB Transporte) were monitored in real time. That pioneering infrastructure — cutting-edge at the time — still reports flow data every minute, but with the same logic as in the early 2000s.
Meanwhile, natural gas reserves and production have dropped to less than half of their 2014 peak; in 2023, the country only marketed 12,926 million m³, 40% less than a decade ago (CEIC Data).
This scenario poses an obvious dilemma: do we resign ourselves to being a mere bypass, or do we bet on transforming the network into a smart platform delivering world-class services?
The Opportunity: From Physical Transport to Data-Driven Value
Digital Lever | What It Enables | Potential Outcome |
IoT Sensors + Edge Analytics | Real-time detection of corrosion, leaks, or vibration | 10–30% lower maintenance costs |
Digital Twins of Pipeline Stations | Simulate flow, pressure, and turbulence scenarios | Up to 5% more capacity without major expansions |
Data-Based Dynamic Tariffs | Tolls based on instant capacity and carbon footprint | New revenue streams not tied to local volumes |
Compression and Contractual Balancing Optimization | Adjust compression power to demand, minimize idle “line-pack” | Energy savings and greater operational flexibility |
Three Strategic Actions to Avoid Falling Behind (Again)
- Modernize the Digital Backbone
- Migrate SCADA to an open architecture in a hybrid cloud environment.
- Deploy fiber optics and low-latency networks in critical pipeline segments.
- Talent and Venture-Tech Alliances
- Upskilling programs where pipeline engineers learn Python and data ops, while data scientists gain geotechnical field knowledge.
- Regulatory sandboxes enabling start-ups focused on drone or in-line robot inspections.
- Legal Certainty and Business Models
- An open tolling framework that rewards reliability and availability, not just volume.
- Interoperability protocols to share telemetry with Argentine and Brazilian operators seamlessly.
- Incentives for methane reduction projects that leverage the existing network.
Why Now?
- Guaranteed Demand: Brazil needs competitive and diversified gas; Argentina seeks Atlantic access; Paraguay is pushing its own energy corridor.
- Relatively Low CapEx: Most investments would be in sensors, software, and analytics—not new pipelines.
- Proven Technical Reputation: Bolivia’s network operated for two decades with over 98% availability rates.
Closing Thought (and a Personal Challenge)
Bolivia may not regain its former ranking as a top exporter, but it can become the digital switch that optimizes gas flow across South America. Raising the bar means embracing regional competition and upgrading infrastructure that once set the standard.
We provide legal protection, strategic business advisory, and human-centered support.
That motto has never made more sense—especially when regulation, technology, and long-term vision meet at the same interconnection point.
If you work in energy, technology, or sustainable finance and would like to discuss how to turn these ideas into action, I invite you to connect and share insights: the future of gas — and of its data — still runs through Bolivia. Contact me at: mmosciaro@indacochea.com