Bolivia partners with Chinese CBC Consortium for US$1 billion lithium plants

Bolivia's government has signed a US$1 billion agreement with the Chinese CBC consortium, including battery giant CATL, to construct two direct lithium extraction (DLE) plants in the Uyuni salt flats, part of the lithium triangle shared with Chile and Argentina. The plants aim to produce 35,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually, with Bolivia holding a 51% stake in the project.

The state-run lithium company YLB confirmed the plants would be built using CBC's technology at the consortium's own cost and risk. One plant will produce 10,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year, while the other will produce 25,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate.

The deal still needs approval from Congress, where Bolivian President Luis Arce’s party is fractured and lacks a majority.