Bolivia delays decision on lithium mining tie-ups to December By Reuters

LA PAZ (Reuters) – Bolivia’s authorities won’t make a ultimate resolution on potential lithium mining tie-ups with personal companions till December, six months behind its preliminary schedule, a senior official informed state tv on Friday.

The federal government is presently evaluating six firms to assist mine the nation’s untapped lithium riches. A number of might finally be chosen to associate with state-owned Yacimientos de Litios Bolivianos (YLB).

Alvaro Arnez, vice minister of excessive vitality applied sciences, informed the state broadcaster that the federal government now plans to have proposals prepared for firms to contemplate by the tip of October, with a ultimate deal or offers in place by the tip of December.

The federal government had beforehand deliberate to announce its ultimate choice final month. It hopes personal companions may help jumpstart lithium extraction in Bolivia’s sprawling salt flats, residence to the world’s largest deposits of the white metallic coveted by rechargeable battery makers.

Regardless of a long time of makes an attempt, Bolivia has but to attain any business lithium manufacturing. Demand for the ultra-light metallic has surged lately.

This month, the federal government narrowed the ultimate choice from eight to 6 suitors, after disqualifying American startup EnergyX and Argentine vitality agency Tecpetrol.[L1N2XW01M]

Bolivia, one of many poorest nations within the Americas, faces steep challenges to fulfill its goal of manufacturing lithium-ion batteries domestically by 2025.

A Reuters report final month highlighted the technological challenges, social resistance, authorized obstacles and political scrambles undermining Bolivia’s extractions plans. [L2N2X906]

Not one of the short-listed corporations have exploited lithium at a business scale earlier than.