The Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy, Franklin Molina Ortiz, reported that six of the eight companies that applied to carry out pilot tests of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) with brines from Bolivian salt flats, classified and will be considered to establish negotiations with Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB), in order to industrialize lithium with the use of this technology. The results of the selection determined by the Bolivian state will be known next week.
According to schedule, Lilac Solutions, Catl Brunp & Cmoc, Citic Guoan/Crig Fusion Enertech, Uranium One Group and Xinjiang Tbea Group Company successfully submitted their preliminary pilot reports on April 15, 2022; while Energy X and Tecpetrol did not meet the requirements and were disqualified.
The classified companies carried out their tests with brines from the Uyuni, Pastos Grandes (Potosí) and Coipasa (Oruro) salt flats. In their results, the companies demonstrated lithium recovery performance above 80%, which was the minimum requirement, and some even exceeded 90%.