Bolivia Makes Plans to Control and Exploit One of Their Natural Resources, Lithium
Led by President Evo Morales, who has successfully championed the rights of Bolivia's indigenous people's of whom his is one himself, the Bolivian government is calling the shots, unwilling, as occurred in former decades, to be a captive market of other nations and global corporations' demands.
While some hypocrites complain this is nationalism, it's called wise and prudent self-interest when their countries do it.
The NYTimes reports: "In the rush to build the next generation of hybrid or electric cars, a sobering fact confronts both automakers and governments seeking to lower their reliance on foreign oil: almost half of the world’s lithium, the mineral needed to power the vehicles, is found here in Bolivia — a country that may not be willing to surrender it so easily.
"Japanese and European companies are busily trying to strike deals to tap the resource, but a nationalist sentiment about the lithium is building quickly in the government of PresidentEvo Morales, an ardent critic of the United States who has already nationalized Bolivia’s oil and natural gas industries.
"For now, the government talks of closely controlling the lithium and keeping foreigners at bay. Adding to the pressure, indigenous groups here in the remote salt desert where the mineral lies are pushing for a share in the eventual bounty.
“ 'We know that Bolivia can become the Saudi Arabia of lithium,' said Francisco Quisbert, 64, the leader of Frutcas, a group of salt gatherers and quinoa farmers on the edge of Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. 'We are poor, but we are not stupid peasants. The lithium may be Bolivia’s, but it is also our property.'
"The new Constitution that Mr. Morales managed to get handily passed by voters last month bolstered such claims. One provision could give Indians control over the natural resources in their territory, strengthening their ability to win concessions from the authorities and private companies, or even block mining projects.
"But the automotive industry holds the biggest untapped potential for lithium, analysts say. Since it weighs less than nickel, which is also used in batteries, it would allow electric cars to store more energy and be driven longer distances.
"While estimates vary widely, some geologists say electric-car manufacturers could draw on Bolivia’s lithium reserves for decades to come.
"At the La Paz headquarters of Comibol, the state agency that oversees mining projects, Mr. Morales’s vision of combining socialism with advocacy for Bolivia’s Indians is prominently on display. Copies of Cambio, a new state-controlled daily newspaper, are available in the lobby, while posters of Che Guevara, the leftist icon killed in Bolivia in 1967, appear at the entrance to Comibol’s offices.
“ 'The previous imperialist model of exploitation of our natural resources will never be repeated in Bolivia,' said Saúl Villegas, head of a division in Comibol that oversees lithium extraction. 'Maybe there could be the possibility of foreigners accepted as minority partners, or better yet, as our clients.'
"Still, even though Mr. Morales is asserting greater control of the economy and taking over oil and gas projects, optimistic industry analysts point out that he allowed some foreign companies to remain in the country as minority partners."
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