In the immense Salar of Uyuni, the great “mess” of Bolivian lithium

At each step, salt crystals crack in a small thud. Furthermore, The intense reverberation obliges to fold the eyes in front of the extent of white. Meanwhile, blue confusing itself in a sumptuous set of mirrors. However, The Salar d’Uyuni, a gigantic 10,000 square kilometers of salt in southern Bolivia (Department of Potosi), strikes with its beauty. Furthermore, In the basements, a geological particularity is another source of pride for Bolivians: lithium.

This alkaline metal is now renowned for the role it plays in the production of electric car batteries. Therefore, Key for the energy transition, Bolivia would hold one of the largest world reserves: 21 million tonnes. A promise of abundance For the small Andean country of 12 million inhabitants. among the poorest in Latin America, which has been trying for more than fifteen years immense salar uyuni, great “mess” to industrialize its production and manufacture its own batteries.

In the District of Colcha K. provincial capital located on the south-eastern bank of Salar, Ivan Calcina, black glasses and chullo (Andean cap covering the ears) on the head, looks in the distance the buildings of the production pilot factory, immense salar uyuni, great “mess” erected in 2010 and Held by the Yacimientos State company of litio Bolivianos (YLB): a set of prospecting drilling, laboratories and evaporation swimming pools. Further, another factory, called “industrial”, was inaugurated with great fanfare in December 2023.

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