Bolivia has resumed lithium industrialisation negotiations with German company ACISA, but it’s also open to new deals with other countries and companies, Kallanish reports.

Under the joint venture established with state-owned Yaciamentos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) in December 2018, ACISA could carry out lithium extraction and industrialisation from residual brine at Salar de Uyuni. The project, which includes several pilot plants in Potosí, was put on hold for 11 months and ACISA’s rights were repealed by a decree following an allegedly coup d’état in 2019.

Talks with Bolivian President Luiz Arce, elected in late 2020, resumed earlier in the year, although specific details are yet to be revealed. ACISA has confirmed the discussions without elaborating further.

“Fortunately, with the return of democracy in Bolivia, the State recovers, we are restarting all this element, all these negotiations that were held with Germany,” said Arce during a press conference late last month. He also left open the possibility of further partnerships with those “that could do a better job and offer us better technology.”

Thanks to the industrialisation project developed with ACISA, Bolivia has a small-scale pilot plant for the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. YLB said last month part of the production of lithium carbonate from the pilot plant in the industrial complex in Potosí will be destined for exports and part to Bolivian pilot plants for the manufacturing of cathode materials and batteries, in La Palca.

YLB also noted that some “adjustments mechanisms” were put in place for the planning and execution of the construction of the new lithium carbonate industrial plant. It didn’t mention ACISA.

The German company says it has managed to obtain high-purity lithium hydroxide directly from residual brine from the salt flat. The JV project was planned to start commercial production at the end of 2022 at levels of around 40,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year.

In a separate statement, YLB announced a partnership with electric vehicle company MOBI, under which the companies would incorporate cells in battery packs developed by YLB for use in MOBI’s EVs. Data on performance and test results would be shared between the companies with a view to eventually developing a commercially viable collaboration.

“As a strategic entity we have the challenge of knowing and exploring new applications in the last link in the lithium chain, which is the assembly of battery packs for different applications such as electric vehicles, photovoltaic systems and others. Knowing this new smart battery equipment is a challenge, not only in their design and assembly, but also in research, and I am sure that they will give good results for the satisfaction of the end-consumer,” said YLB ceo Marcelo Gonzales.

Playing its part in the energy transition of Bolivia, YLB claims to be responsible for carrying out the activities of the entire production chain. These include prospecting; exploration; exploitation; benefit or concentration; operation; management of evaporite resources; industrialization and commercialization of resources.

“Bolivia has a 51% stake in the joint venture YLB-ACISA. This enables Bolivia to benefit directly from the company’s success,” ACISA says on its website. “Through industrialisation along the value chain, the advantages for Bolivia go beyond the sale of the raw material.”

ACISA is backed by a strong network of German federal ministries and other industry agencies and associations.