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Grand plans for Bolivian lithium

March 04, 2010 - 00:00 GMT

KEYWORDS: lithium , Bolivia , Morales , COMIBOL , batteries , electric vehicles , EV , salar

Bolivia is sitting on the world’s largest lithium reserves in the Salar de Uyuni. The country’s lithium mining chief outlined to IM the government’s plans to build a world-leading project.

Saul Villegas, director of Bolivia’s National Bureau for Evaporative Studies, a branch of the state-run Bolivian Mining Corp. (COMIBOL), explained the country’s plans to turn the world’s largest lithium reserves into the new hub of global production.

Industrial Minerals: Why is the lithium industry so important to Bolivia?

Saul Villegas: The present political context in Bolivia makes necessary the development of a national and social project. The project will consolidate the government and country with its own industry capable of producing and commercialising products with added value, meeting international standards.

Under these circumstances, we are moving forward on the implementation of our lithium carbonate pilot plant, which will provide us the technical data required for a large-scale manufacturing plant.

The pilot plant is a research facility where Bolivian scientists, engineers and technicians will be trained in the processes and...

All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. © Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC.

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