Posted in | News | Lithium | Mining Business

China Looks to Bolivia for Untapped Lithium and Potassium

By Joel ScanlonDec 11 2011

The CITIC Guaon Group, a Chinese state company, has signed an agreement with Bolivia to develop lithium and other resources in the South American nation.

The agreement will involve the exploration of the Coipasa salt flats to quantify known reserves of potassium and lithium.

Lithium is a silvery white material which has become more in demand since it has been used in rechargeable batteries. It is also used in the production of ceramics and has some other industrial uses as well. Potassium, a soft silvery-white alkali metal, is widely used as a fertilizer and in food production as well as other industrial applications.

The president of the Bolivian state company which was created in 2010 to develop lithium among other resources is Luis Alberto Echazu. He said that the Chinese state run company has agreed to explore the area 300 km south of La Paz close to the Chilean border.

As per Bolivian geologists the nation is believed to have more than 70% of the earth’s reserves of lithium. With the help of the CITIC Guaon Group the Bolivian government hopes to benefit from this existing resource.

Written by

Joel Scanlon

Joel relocated to Australia in 1995 from the United Kingdom and spent five years working in the mining industry as an exploration geotechnician. His role involved utilizing GIS mapping and CAD software. Upon transitioning to the North Coast of NSW, Australia, Joel embarked on a career as a graphic designer at a well-known consultancy firm. Subsequently, he established a successful web services business catering to companies across the eastern seaboard of Australia. It was during this time that he conceived and launched News-Medical.Net. Joel has been an integral part of AZoNetwork since its inception in 2000. Joel possesses a keen interest in exploring the boundaries of technology, comprehending its potential impact on society, and actively engaging with AI-driven solutions and advancements.

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Scanlon, Joel. (2019, March 19). China Looks to Bolivia for Untapped Lithium and Potassium. AZoMining. Retrieved on November 21, 2024 from https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=5564.
MLA
Scanlon, Joel. "China Looks to Bolivia for Untapped Lithium and Potassium". AZoMining. 21 November 2024. <https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=5564>.
Chicago
Scanlon, Joel. "China Looks to Bolivia for Untapped Lithium and Potassium". AZoMining. https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=5564. (accessed November 21, 2024).
Harvard
Scanlon, Joel. 2019. China Looks to Bolivia for Untapped Lithium and Potassium. AZoMining, viewed 21 November 2024, https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=5564.