Half of the lithium reserves used by mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices, including new hybrid vehicles , comes from Bolivia . Specifically, the Salar de Uyuni, an 11,000 square kilometer salt esplanade that 40,000 years ago was part of the gigantic prehistoric Lake Ballivián.
The demand for lithium has increased considerably in recent years. But it is the automotive sector that holds the greatest untapped potential for this raw material, according to analysts. As it weighs less than nickel, also used in batteries, it would allow electric cars to store more energy and travel longer distances.
That’s why scientists believe that lithium will be the key clean mineral in the post- oil era . And that, therefore, Bolivia could become “the Saudi Arabia of lithium.”
The Salar de Uyuni is a huge white desert covered by a crust of petrified salt.
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Uyuni is believed to contain around 4.9 million tons of lithium. Significant amounts of boron, magnesium and potassium can also be extracted from the salt.
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Japanese companies such as Mitsubishi have already tried to enter into negotiations with the Bolivian government to exploit lithium.
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Located near the crest of the Andes, at an altitude of 3,650 meters, the Salar de Uyuni is used for the calibration of satellites such as GPS.
© RADIALPRESS
