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Article

17 Dec 2019

Author:
Infobae

Bolivia: Future of lithium extraction under question after Evo Morales' departure

[Excerpt translation from Spanish to English provided by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

 "What is the future of lithium in Bolivia after the departure of Evo Morales" - 9 December 2019

... The departure of Evo Morales and the possible triumph of a right-wing movement in Bolivia's upcoming elections has raised doubts about the future of the extraction and production of lithium, a key mineral for the new generation of electronic devices and the protagonist of the economic project for the altiplano... The wave of nationalisations of the coca growers' leader, which began more than a decade ago and initially focused on hydrocarbons, also reached "white gold", with a plan divided into three medium- and long-term phases: The extraction of lithium carbonate, the deployment of industrial processes through alliances with international firms and, finally, the local production of lithium batteries... The limitations of ACI Systems, a small German company that won the tender for industrialization, complicated the task.  And this year, the social factor was added. In Potosí, the poorest department in the country and home to the reserves, civil organizations demanded to know the details of the agreement and to achieve a greater participation in the royalties... In the face of the growing social chaos of recent weeks, the Morales government resolved to abolish the contract with ACI Systems... A few days ago, the chancellor of the interim government of Bolivia, Karen Longaric, said that it was necessary to "strengthen" relations with China, but also to redirect them and look after the interests of the country by protecting natural resources...