Where does lithium come from?
South America’s poorest country, Bolivia, could face a brighter future because of the insatiable global demand for lithium. Joshua Keating in Foreign Policy reports that 50 to 70% of the world’s supply of lithium is contained in Bolivia’s Uyuni salt flats.
Foreign Policy offers a photo essay on lithium mining, which involves evaporation ponds in which light-weight lithium rises, floating above the remaining salt water. Bolivia, the “Saudi Arabia of lithium,” may have reserves of lithium as high as 100 million tons. Keating reports, “Foreign companies including Mitsubishi and LG have expressed interest in investing in the mining operation, but President Evo Morales’s leftist government is wary of foreign corporations and has thus far only accepted technical advice.” He adds that Bolivia is hoping not to repeat the mistakes it made in allowing foreigners to reap the profits from the country’s silver mine and oil and gas reserves.
In addition to lithium miners, the salt flats attract flamingos and 60,000 tourists per year.
Captain Bob commented:
How is it I can smell Tulips?
trr commented:
Now if we could get our hands on a big supply of *di*lithium, then we'd have it made!
Steve Leibson commented:
Shouldn't the country be called Bolithium?
Paul Rako commented:
We've GOT to end our dependence on foreign lithium. Is it time for a preemptive war with Bolivia? I'm sure we would be hailed as liberators and we could set up a puppet government and get all that lithium pumped out before they knew what hit them.
MA in NC commented:
There is also a huge lithium mine in Bessemer City, NC. There is a very large processing plant outside the small town and quite a few Bessemer City residents work there. It's also called the Lithium Corporation of America.
