The relevance that lithium has gained is closely linked to the fact that it is a key mineral in the development of efficient energy storage systems. Such is its importance that the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to John Goodenough, Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino, the creators of lithium-ion batteries, which enable electromobility.

In a context in which a new energy paradigm is emerging, lithium is particularly noteworthy in Latin America. Eighty percent of the most profitable and easily extractable resource is obtained from the salt flats of the so-called "lithium triangle", formed by Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.

Bolivia has the largest salt flat in the world and the largest lithium reserve in the world: the Salar de Uyuni. Located in the Altiplano, northeast of the Department of Potosi, has about 21 million tons of this mineral.

In a brief historical overview, lithium exploitation in Bolivia began 30 years ago and was marked by social and economic conflicts in a mining region marked by poverty. Since then, different governments have tried to sign contracts with foreign companies to advance in the exploration and exploitation of the mineral. Closer in time, a package of measures, including the Mining and Metallurgy Law, focused on the industrialization process, which would remain in the hands of the State.

The Constitution of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, enacted in 2009, states that strategic natural resources are exclusive competencies of the central level of the State. Among them are minerals. "The State shall be responsible for the mineral wealth found in the soil and subsoil, whatever its origin, and its application shall be regulated by law," states Article 369 of the Constitution.

In Bolivia, the National Strategic Public Company of Bolivian Lithium Deposits (Empresa Pública Nacional Estratégica de Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos, YLB) is responsible for carrying out the activities of the entire production chain. The same was created from Law No. 928 published on April 27, 2017 with the signing of the then President Evo Morales Ayma. This institution, which has 100% state participation, is currently chaired by engineer Carlos Humberto Ramos Mamani.

According to the Sole Article of said law, YLB is under the orbit of the Ministry of Energies and replaced the National Management of Evaporitic Resources. The functions of this state-owned company are "prospecting, exploration, exploitation, benefit or concentration, installation, implementation, start-up, operation and administration of evaporite resources, inorganic chemistry complexes, industrialization and commercialization" of lithium.

YLB aims, according to the company's own vision, to industrialize the country's evaporite resources by carrying out sustainable, public and social projects. On the other hand, it intends to develop research and production of lithium derivatives. At the same time, it seeks to position Bolivia in the world market of this strategic resource in the current context, in which a change of matrix towards alternative and clean energies is being promoted.

Currently, lithium extraction in Bolivia is in full expansion. And strong growth is expected for the coming years. According to information provided by YLB, its sales have multiplied more than 20 times during the last three years. Revenues produced from this mineral increased from US$ 3,806,325 to US$ 78,269,320 from 2020 to 2022.

During last year, YLB recorded production of 600 metric tons of lithium carbonate, which were exported to China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, 55,000 MT of potassium chloride were marketed between the domestic market and sales to Chile, Brazil, Peru, Malaysia and Paraguay.

Regarding the future of this mineral in Bolivia, an expansion of export markets is expected for 2023. The state-owned company plans to expand to new markets, such as India and other Asian countries.

Recently, the Bolivian government, through YLB, signed an agreement with the Chinese consortium CATL BRUNP & CMOC (CBC) to build two Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology plants in the Coipasa (in Oruro) and Uyuni salt flats.

According to the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy, Franklin Molina, the country is expected to generate US$ 5 billion from lithium carbonate sales by 2025. This figure will be reached with a production of 50,000 tons of "white gold", 25,000 tons in each of the plants.

At the same time, in 2024, the Lithium Carbonate Industrial Plant, which is being constructed in Llipi, in Uyuni, will start production. It will have the capacity to extract 15,000 tons of this mineral.