Bolivia says Petrobras may return to oil and gas production, help restructure YPFB

Bolivia said it will begin technical talks with Petrobras next week about the Brazilian oil major’s possible return to exploration and production in the country, alongside discussions on helping restructure state energy firm YPFB. The move signals a policy shift aimed at reopening Bolivia to foreign energy investment after years of falling gas output, shrinking hard-currency reserves, and recurring fuel shortages. Officials said the two sides agreed to form working groups to assess Petrobras’ renewed role, but gave no investment figures or timeline. The article also notes that a reserve report due next week will be closely watched because Bolivia has long delayed updated data, creating uncertainty over remaining oil and gas resources. Market impact is mainly on Latin American energy investment sentiment and Petrobras’ regional optionality rather than immediate price action.