Roadblocks set up by indigenous communities Jutun and Jachuy Aylly Jila in Potosi have been temporarily suspended until Wednesday, May 22nd. This decision came after the Minister of Mining arrived in Potosí to address their demands for the restart of operations at the Landara, Kilpani, and Punutuma hydroelectric plants.

Deputy departmental police commander Carlos Oblitas reported that earth mounds were placed in the Chaquilla and Charcoyo areas. However, police successfully negotiated with a group of former ENDE-Valle Hermoso workers, who then removed the obstacles. As of now, all roads connecting Potosí with other regions are clear.

Indigenous Communities Propose Management Transfer: Both communities and workers suggest that the Governor’s Office should take over the management of the plants. However, they oppose the involvement of Comibol (Corporación Minera de Bolivia) through a loan agreement. They argue that such agreements impede investment in equipment upgrades and electricity generation capacity.

Zoom In: The conflict stems from three hydroelectric plants (Kilpani, Landara, and Punutuma), owned in a joint venture between Comibol (Corporación Minera de Bolivia) and ENDE Valle Hermoso (Empresa Nacional de Electricidad), which generated electricity for the Porco Municipality and part of southeastern Potosi for 25 years.

Currently, the plants are paralyzed, and even though the state government wants to administer and reactivate them, ENDE is not authorizing their operation due to an outstanding debt on their balance sheet leaving several tenths of local workers jobless.