September 16, 2024, 5:04 PM
September 16, 2024, 5:04 PM
Bolivia will begin construction of the first industrial lithium production plant in the Uyuni salt flat, Potosí, using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. The project will be carried out by the Russian company Uranium One Group, which will produce battery-grade lithium carbonate with a purity of over 99%, the president of Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB), Omar Alarcón, informed state media.
The executive said that “This is the first contract” that the State has signed an agreement for “the development of certified battery grade lithium carbonate production.” The agreement, signed last Wednesday, marks the start of an ambitious project for the industrialization of this strategic resource.
The contract provides for the construction of a plant with the capacity to produce 14,000 tons of lithium carbonate per yearusing innovative EDL technology, which will allow the mineral to be extracted more efficiently and with less environmental impact.
The total investment of This project amounts to 970 million dollars, which underlines the magnitude of the commitment made by both YLB and Uranium One Group.
The lithium produced at the plant will be battery grade, meaning it will be pure enough to make cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, which are used in a wide range of electronic devices and especially in electric vehicles, a rapidly growing industry worldwide.
The project will be executed Within a period of approximately 30 months and will be developed in a phased mannerConstruction will begin once the contract is approved by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP), which will mark the formal start of construction of this cutting-edge industrial plant.
“It is an accidental partnership contract that is already being submitted to the Legislative Assembly for its treatment and approval. After this signature, the execution of the contract as such and the investments themselves will begin,” Alarcón stressed.
Bolivia has 23 million tons of quantified lithiuma resource that is in the process of international certification. This enormous potential, according to the head of YLB, added to industrialization projects such as the one that will be carried out in Uyuni, positions the country as a key player in the global lithium market, contributing significantly to the future of electric mobility and the energy transition.
