Bolivian lithium plans hurt foreign cos
Thursday, 28 October 2010
LA PAZ, Oct 27 (AFP): Bolivia's new proposal to go solo in industrializing its rich lithium deposits leaves foreign companies, including France's Bollore-Eramet, out of the business, the French envoy to La Paz told AFP.
Lithium is widely used in rechargeable batteries for laptops, mobile phones and electric cars -- and an estimated 70 percent of the world's known lithium reserves are in Bolivia.
But the country's Socialist president, Evo Morales, said that Bolivia would not be satisfied in just becoming a provider of lithium as a raw material.
Bolivia wants to mine the lithium, then develop its own lithium battery industry in partnership with international companies, Morales said Thursday.
French Ambassador Antoine Grassin was unimpressed with Morales's ideas.
Lithium is widely used in rechargeable batteries for laptops, mobile phones and electric cars -- and an estimated 70 percent of the world's known lithium reserves are in Bolivia.
But the country's Socialist president, Evo Morales, said that Bolivia would not be satisfied in just becoming a provider of lithium as a raw material.
Bolivia wants to mine the lithium, then develop its own lithium battery industry in partnership with international companies, Morales said Thursday.
French Ambassador Antoine Grassin was unimpressed with Morales's ideas.