| Work Detail |
Currently, companies from China, Russia, the United States and Argentina carry out pilot studies with brine from the Uyuni, Pastos Grandes and Coipasa salt flats. These 8 companies will present the preliminary results of their samples with EDL application at the end of April.
At the end of this year, it is planned to inaugurate an industrial-scale lithium carbonate plant in Bolivia, which already has 76% physical progress and will be able to produce 15,000 metric tons (MT) per year. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of High Energy Technologies, Álvaro Arnez, at the first Induction Workshop for the Press on the Energy Sector: Industrialization of Lithium, in which journalists from different media outlets were exposed to this strategic sector for the Bolivian economy.
Bolivia has an industrial potassium chloride plant and a semi-industrial carbonate plant in Llipi, Potosí. In 2021, record production and income from the sale of evaporite resources have been achieved, according to Arnez, and “when this work starts, and with current international prices per ton that exceed US$60,000, we are going to considerably increase our production, our income; and Bolivian Lithium Deposits will begin to position themselves as a pillar of the Bolivian economy”, said the head of High Energy Technologies.
Bolivia has the largest quantified evaporite resources in the world in the Uyuni salt flat, in Potosí, and ventured into the industrialization of these resources in 2013, through evaporation pools, which allowed it to start with the production of potassium chloride , carbonate of lithium and even pilot-scale lithium cathodes and batteries.
Additionally, Arnez indicated that Bolivia plans to incorporate this year the Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, which allows to accelerate and optimize the industrialization process of this evaporite resource, has higher performance than the current method and less environmental impact. "The industrialization of lithium is a priority for the national government and we want to reach 2025 producing lithium hydroxide and cathodes, key elements for the production of lithium batteries," he said.
Currently there are eight companies from China, Russia, the United States and Argentina, which carry out pilot tests with brines from the Uyuni, Pastos Grandes (Potosí), and Coipasa (Oruro) salt flats and the preliminary results of their samples with EDL application are will know at the end of April, while the conclusive results will be ready at the end of May.
Among the details he gave, the deputy minister revealed that, despite being the smallest salt flat compared to the other two, Pastos Grandes has the brines with the highest concentration of lithium nationwide, making it an attractive territory to make investments. and use EDL.
The authority reiterated that "with any company that works to apply EDL technology, the principle of respect for the sovereignty of our natural resources will prevail, where Bolivia will keep at least 51% of the income from the industrialization of lithium , in the framework of what is established in the Political Constitution of the State”.
The Center for Research in Science and Technology of Evaporitic Materials and Resources of Bolivia, located in the town of La Palca, in the municipality of Llocalla, has 38 specialized laboratories, climbing bunkers and high-tech equipment used for research, development and innovation of cathode materials, electrolytes and chemical elements for the industrialization of lithium and its derivatives. |
