INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
In an official statement, the Bolivian government declared an increase in its verified lithium reserves, positioning it as the holder of the
Andes, and Coipasa, mainly within the Oruro department of Bolivia, with a fraction extending into Chilean territory.President Luis Arce
expanded from an already quantified 21 million tons.Bolivia claims world leadership in lithium reservesThe government also reported
significant infrastructure investments, including an upcoming road and a high-voltage power line to support a lithium extraction plant
funded by the Chinese consortium CBC.Bolivia had earlier struck a US$1.4 billion deal with CBC to establish two lithium extraction plants in
Coipasa and the Uyuni salt flat.Later, it signed agreements with Citic Guoan and the Uranium One Group to install additional extraction
complexes.Notably, the Bolivian government seeks to collaborate with neighboring countries such as Chile, Argentina, and Peru for regional
lithium-based development.Currently, industrial plants for processing potassium salts, chloride, and lithium carbonate are in operation,
with another lithium carbonate plant nearing completion.The state also plans to explore five smaller salt flats for further lithium reserves
