Bolivia approves nine companies for lithium mining tests

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Nine international companies have qualified to begin lithium mining tests in the salt lakes of Bolivia’s Altiplano, the government announced, in a bid to win a partnership contract with the state for mass production.

“Following the process launched in April to find the best technology for the direct lithium extraction (EDL) project, nine companies will soon enter the pilot testing phase in the Uyuni salt flats,” Hydrocarbons and Energy Minister Franklin Molina said in an official statement.

The government announced that some 20 companies were bidding for the lithium mining contract, although investment projections, production targets, and other details were not disclosed.

Molina did not name any foreign companies that will test technologies to extract lithium from the salt lakes. Only the interest of Russia’s Rosatom, which declared its participation in the process, is publicly known.

The EDL program will complement projects already launched by Bolivia’s state-owned Yacimientos de Litio, which include the construction of lithium carbonate and potassium chloride plants and industrialization projects agreed upon but not yet confirmed with companies from Germany and China.

“With EDL technology, Bolivia could shorten the lead time to start industrial production of cathodes, lithium carbonate, and eventually lithium batteries for electric vehicles,” Molina said.

Bolivia has the largest proven lithium reserves in the world, located mainly in the Uyuni, Coipasa and Pastos Grandes salt flats in the southwestern highlands.

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