Bolivia seeks lithium industrialization in seven of its salt flats and launches a call

The Government of Bolivia launched this Friday a second international call for the use of evaporite resources, lithium and other minerals, in seven of its salt flats and to attract projects through direct lithium extraction (EDL) technology.

The Research, Engineering and Projects Manager of YLB, Salvador Beltrán, explained that the call is not directed only at lithium production but at “many minerals” that can be industrialized and that Bolivian brines contain.

The sites for the development of these projects are the Uyuni salt flats (the largest in the world with a surface area of ​​12,000 square kilometers), Coipasa, Pastos Grandes, Cañapa, Capina, Chiguana and Empexa, located in the departments of Potosí and Oruro.

“The call includes several phases that we have developed to study and evaluate the technologies, because these projects have to end with the signing of a pilot plant agreement.”Beltrán specified.

“The challenge that Bolivia faces is the application of EDL technology, the production and the collection of income from the sale of lithium carbonate.”to reach the production of cathodes and batteries”he added.

Industrialization

The presentation of the ‘International Call for the Comprehensive Development of Evaporite Resources’ was held in La Paz by the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy, Franklin Molina, and the president of the state-owned Yacimiento del Litio Bolivianos (YLB).

Also attending were the ambassadors and diplomatic representatives of Germany, Brazil, Chile, South Korea, China, Egypt, Spain, the United States, France, Japan, Turkey, Russia and the European Union, among other countries.

In his speech, Minister Molina said that this tender has the goal that several companies “They join“to the industrialization of lithium with EDL technology and implement”not only“pilot projects but”on a larger scale”.

“We are convinced that these companies that are going to present themselves starting today will use cutting-edge technology to boost lithium production”he added.

The minister specified that, within the framework of the “transparency principles“, the procedures from the call to the selection of proposals will be carried out in “open and understandable manner for all parties”.

He also mentioned that technical tables will be held and that the results of each stage will be public, following a “transparency protocol” with information “reliable” for all.

Molina emphasized that the call is made with the principles of “sovereignty” of Bolivia about its natural resources, respect for the communities and peasant towns where the projects are located in addition to the “I respect” to Mother Earth.

Background

This is the second international call for lithium industrialization carried out by Bolivia after the one it launched in April 2021.

In 2023, Bolivia signed agreements for the application of direct lithium extraction (EDL) technology with the Chinese companies CATL BRUNP & MOC (CBC) and Citic Guoan in addition to the Russian Uranium One Group, for the design and construction of lithium plants. lithium carbonate.

In addition, it signed another with the Indian firm Altimin to develop technology in the manufacturing of lithium ion batteries.

At the end of last year, Bolivia inaugurated an industrial complex to produce 15,000 tons of lithium annually with a system of evaporation pools, which is part of a plan that aims to reach 100,000 tons between 2025 and 2026, when the projects are operating. In its whole.

A state study established that Bolivia went from having 21 to 23 million tons of lithium reserves, which, according to the Government, places the country as the “first world reserve”.