This Spanish language post by Fundacion Solon explains how Bolivia started considering mega-dams as a solution to economic concerns. “But not only are the prices and revenues of the gas exported to Brazil and Argentina falling, but also the natural gas reserves are falling. Domestic consumption of natural gas is increasing and it is not possible to think of a substantial increase in export volumes in the short term. The situation is so serious that in July 2016, Argentina applied a fine of $ 2,224,068 to Bolivia for failing to comply with the supply of gas to the neighboring country.”
“The fall in revenues from gas exports has an economic and political impact. The dominant logic during the last decade has been that of a gas exporting State that distributes income between the regions and the Bolivians, through a series of social mechanisms and programs. The strength of the government depends on its ability to distribute those monies that come from the extraction and export of gas. The radical decrease in these revenues opens not only an economic crisis but a political crisis in the country. The "godfather" state would no longer be sustainable. To compensate for the fall in gas export revenues, the government seeks to build several mega hydroelectric plants that would export electricity to neighboring countries. The plan is to move from an installed capacity of 1,600 MW to 13,382 MW until 2025…
The investments needed to build these mega hydroelectric plants will exceed 25,000 million dollars and will mark the future of Bolivia for the next 50 years."