Bolivia: Lithium Reserves and the Challenge of Economic and Political Stability

Bolivia has the world’s largest undeveloped lithium reserves, located in the Salar de Uyuni. Bolivia’s potential to become a major player in the global lithium market focuses on the country’s opportunities in developing these resources. Challenges facing Bolivia include political instability, lack of infrastructure, and the difficulty it faces in developing the technology and expertise needed to effectively extract and process lithium. In addition, Bolivia’s approach to lithium mining focuses on its desire to ensure that the benefits of lithium mining are shared with local residents.