Bolivia’s undercarriage could carry future prominence in lithium.

Automakers and government officials seeking lower reliance towards oil, have found an answer. The answer to the problem is found in Bolivia. Bolivia provides almost half of the world’s lithium which can be used to power vehicles and company equipment. Because of the country’s easy will to give up the lithium, hopefully, many cultures like the Japanese and the Europeans are trying to cut the best deal in order to be in control of lithium’s future plans.
“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 United States Geological Survey says 5.4 million tons of lithium could potentially be extracted in Bolivia, compared with 3 million in Chile, 1.1 million in China and just 410,000 in the United States.
One of the biggest potential companies that have the possibility to use lithium and be successful is the automotive industry. It would allow electric cars to store more energy and be driven longer distances.
The United States Geological Survey says 5.4 million tons of lithium could potentially be found in Bolivia, compared with 410,000 in the United States. While estimates vary widely, some geologists say electric-car manufacturers could draw on Bolivia’s lithium reserves for decades to come.
“Of course, lithium is the mineral that will lead us to the post-petroleum era,” Mr. Castro said. “But in order to go down that road, we must raise the revolutionary consciousness of our people, starting on the floor of this very factory.”