Rosatom' Uranium One, YLB sign contract to build lithium carbonate plant in Bolivia

MOSCOW. Sept 12 (Interfax) - Uranium One Group, a division of Russian state corporation Rosatom, and Bolivian state company YLB have signed a contract to build a lithium carbonate production plant in Bolivia, Rosatom reported.

The Russian company's project calls for opening the plant, which will be built at the Uyuni Salt Flat in the Potosi Department, in the second half of 2025 and then gradually expanding capacity to eventually produce up to 14,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year, Rosatom said.

The resource potential of the salt flat will be tapped using Russian direct sorptive extraction technology, the company said.

Rosatom has been working with Bolivia for some time. In 2016 the parties signed an intergovernmental agreement to cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear technology and the construction of a nuclear research and technology center. Construction of the center might be completed in 2024.

Rosatom might also build a plant in Bolivia to manufacture energy storage devices, the company's first deputy CEO, Kirill Komarov said at the Atomexpo-2024 exhibition.

The parties have also discussed the possibility of building small nuclear power plants in Bolivia, Rosatom CEO said at the 2024 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.