Bolivia pushing lithium projects in 2019
Bolivia, which is striving to diversify its mining industry from its dependence on zinc, silver and tin, aims to push ahead with three lithium industry-related projects this year, a senior government official said.
The Andean country aims to finish construction of a lithium carbonate plant by year-end, in addition to forming a JV company with Germany’s ACI Systems to build a lithium battery plant, said Juan Carlos Montenegro, CEO of state company Yacimientos del Litio Boliviano (YLB).
YLB is also looking to develop the Coipasa and Pastos Grandes lithium properties, located in Potosí department, Montenegro said.
“They are three highly important challenges that have to be guaranteed and started to commit an investment that could top US$2.3bn,” Montenegro told state Radio Patria Nueva. “This year is crucial for YLB.”
The government last year awarded contracts for potassium chloride and lithium carbonate plants at the Salar de Uyuni saltflats and signed a draft contract with ACI. The JV with ACI will enable the company to begin work on a feasibility study for a plant in Potosí, Montenegro said.
Bolivia, which finished construction of a US$188mn, 350,000t/y potassium chloride plant in October, aims this year to export 80,000t of the mineral used in the fertilizer and pharmaceutical industries, according to YLB. The plant, which has produced 30,000t to date, is exporting to Brazil, Peru and Chile and may add markets in Argentina and Paraguay, Montenegro said.
The Salar de Uyuni project, which is thought to hold 70% of the world's lithium reserves, is designed to produce 50,000t/y of lithium, in addition to potassium chloride and magnesium chloride. The government in March also signed an MOU with China’s Xinjiang Tbea Group to develop Coipasa and Pastos Grandes.
The projects are part of a government drive to invest US$2bn in the mining and metallurgical industries by 2020. Private investment has dwindled in Bolivia since President Evo Morales seized mining assets from companies including Glencore, South American Silver, Quiborax and India’s Jindal Steel after first taking power in 2006.
In other mining news, Comibol’s Telamayu concentrator plant, which processes ore from the company’s Thuthu zinc-lead-silver property in Potosí department, sold 200t of zinc-silver concentrates to trader Trafigura Beheer this month, the company said in a statement.
Telamayu, which is undergoing trial runs, last year produced 236.7t zinc-silver and 67.4t lead-silver, most of which was delivered to Comibol’s Karachipampa smelter, according to the company.
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News in: Mining & Metals (Bolivia)
Bolivia advances plans for lithium production plants
The state lithium company is defining aspects of the plans with Chinese and Russian firms.
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These companies seek to establish strategic connections and collaborations that drive joint development in this key area.
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