Uranium One Group JSC, an entity of the ROSATOM Atomic Energy Corporation, and YLB (Lithium Deposits of Bolivia, Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos), the Bolivian State Company, have signed a framework agreement for the construction of a lithium carbonate mining and production complex in the Potosí Department, Bolivia.

Lithium has become a key element in the green economy, particularly in the development of energy storage systems that are widely used in various high-tech industries. The joint project between Russia and Bolivia aims to establish a complete production chain in Bolivia, which boasts the world’s largest lithium reserves. This chain will encompass mining lithium raw materials and producing a marketable product.

“The agreement opens up new prospects for long-term cooperation between Russia and Bolivia. For ROSATOM, this marks our first major foreign project in the field of lithium production, with an investment of approximately $600 million. Our plan is to build an industrial complex with a capacity of 25,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year, with the possibility of expansion based on geological exploration results. We are keen to support the Bolivian Party’s interest in commissioning the first stage and initiating production as soon as possible. ROSATOM will also provide training to develop qualified personnel for the high-tech industry in Bolivia,” stated Kirill Komarov, the First Deputy Director General for Development and International Business of ROSATOM.

Uranium One Group was selected for the agreement through its participation in YLB’s International Competition of Direct Lithium Sorption Extraction Technologies. As per the agreement, the company will be involved in constructing an industrial complex based on the brine spring (salar) of Pastos Grandes in the Potosí Department.

The lithium mining process will employ Russia’s direct sorption extraction technology, known for its cost efficiency and environmentally friendly approach.

ROSATOM has been consistently fostering cooperation with Bolivia. The successful implementation of the Center for Nuclear Technology Research and Development (CNTRD) project in El Alto, the only one of its kind in Latin America, offers Bolivia significant opportunities for the application of nuclear technology in areas such as health and agriculture. The first radiopharmaceuticals produced at the cyclotron complex built by ROSATOM have already been delivered to Bolivian clinics. The new joint Russian-Bolivian project will further contribute to the country’s social and economic development, enhancing the quality of life for the Bolivian population.

The ceremony will be attended by President of Bolivia Luis Arce Catacora, President of YLB Carlos Ramos, Minister of Energies Franklin Molina Ortiz, and President of Lithium One Bolivia Jorge Alberto Roca Kauffmann, who represents Uranium One’s Bolivian subsidiary.

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