Bolivia’s passed its Hydrocarbons Law, on fairly miserable terms that will be sure to chase out foreign investment, dispirit President Carlos Mesa, rouse Evo Morales to block roads and starve cities, and drive separatist sentiment in pro-trade Santa Cruz province.

And the result of all this? Bolivia’s natural gas will face a great future underground. Miguel Buitrago has the whole story, nicely analysed, here.