Bolivia’s First Lithium Carbonate Industrial Plant Achieves Optimal Operation
Bolivia's pioneering Lithium Carbonate Industrial Plant, inaugurated in December, has been reported to operate at optimal levels, according to Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB). Karla Calderón, the president of the state-owned enterprise, announced the successful certification of over 700 pieces of equipment within the plant's production circuit, marking a significant milestone in the project's definitive handover from the contractor, Asociación Maison/CMEC.
The plant has undergone a series of planned shutdowns for individual equipment verification, aligning with the contractual obligations for the project's final delivery. With the verification process set to conclude on January 25, YLB anticipates the continuous production of lithium carbonate to recommence promptly.
YLB has set an initial production target of 4,000 tons of lithium carbonate for the current year, with expectations to ramp up output progressively. Situated within the YLB Industrial Complex in Colcha "K", near the Uyuni salt flat in Potosí, the plant's establishment faced delays due to technical challenges in the original design. However, comprehensive reengineering and technical adjustments have since rectified these issues, paving the way for the industry's launch.
Under Calderón's leadership, YLB is dedicated to prioritizing quality and efficiency in lithium industrialization, aiming to circumvent the setbacks and technical deficiencies experienced in past administrations. The plant is set to begin with 30% production capacity, with plans to incrementally increase output to reach its full potential of 15,000 tons annually by 2025.
