At a glance: Bolivia's hydrocarbons industrialization company EBIH, revisted

Established in 2008 following the nationalization of Bolivia's hydrocarbons sector, state hydrocarbons industrialization company EBIH is widening its footprint.

Although overshadowed by its sister companies such as state hydrocarbons operator YPFB, EBIH has evolved into a relevant player along the industry's value chain, producing value-added products to help cover domestic demand and export surplus.

The company operates two plants, one in El Alto, outside capital La Paz, that produces polyethylene pipes and accessories, principally for natural gas distribution but also for water projects.

The El Alto plant's laboratory has received national level accreditation which would allow it to provide services to third parties.

El Alto plant (Source: EBIH)

The other is a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) granular fertilizer plant in Cochabamba.

EBIH received a boost last year with the signing of a fertilizer cooperation agreement between the governments of Bolivia and Brazil that includes the shipment of NPK.

Read Bolivia opens a gigantic fertilizer export market with Brazil

In 2024, the El Alto plant produced 875t of piping and 119t of accessories for combined revenue of 40.3mn bolivianos (US$6mn), and the Cochabamba facility produced 4,555t of fertilizer with revenue of 23.9mn bolivianos.

The company's revenue in 2023 and 2022 totaled 35.6mn bolivianos and 21.2mn bolivianos, respectively.

Cochabamba plant (Source: EBIH)

Projects

EBIH now looks to expand its operations with three new projects.

One planned project is the construction of a geomembrane plant to reduce imports and target the mining, environmental and agricultural sectors.

In a presentation, the company’s head Jorge Martínez said the preinvestment technical design study has been completed and that actions are underway to secure financing from Bolivian government fund Finpro.

A second project entails the development of a plant to produce compound fertilizers and phosphates, for which a preinvestment technical design study is being carried out.

And a technical prerequisites report, used to secure financing in Bolivia, is being drafted for a project to replace metallic gas cylinders with composite ones.