‘Bolivia's deputies suspended the processing of contracts with Russia and China on lithium exploitation’, 14 February 2025

...The Bolivian Chamber of Deputies suspended on Friday the parliamentary processing of the bills related to the contracts for the exploitation of lithium with Chinese and Russian companies, until the information process with all sectors of civil society is completed.

The contracts in question have generated doubts and unease among institutions, NGOs and members of civil society, who have denounced possible damage to the nation and a lack of information and clarity for citizens.

‘As president of the Chamber of Deputies, we have decided not to deal with these two bills as long as the socialisation continues,’ declared the president of this legislative body, Omar Yujra, at a press conference on Friday.

Civil society institutions and leaders of the Andean region of Potosí, where the Uyuni salt flat - the largest lithium reserve in the country and one of the largest in South America, as well as the largest continuous and high salt desert in the world - is located, have in recent days expressed their doubts and observations about the projects, which could generate large-scale environmental impacts in addition to losses in the millions...

Citizen leaders in Potosí expressed their ‘deep annoyance’ at the lack of information on the projects by the government and more than 30 institutions denounced that the investments of foreign companies ‘would be returned by the Bolivian state, based on assumptions that are not clearly explained’...