Reports related to this article:
Project(s): View 2 related projects in PECWeb
Plant(s): View 2 related plants in PECWeb
Released October 06, 2023 | SUGAR LAND
en
Written by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The energy ministries of Bolivia and Brazil met this week in Brasilia, Brazil, to discuss cooperation on lithium, fertilizers, oil and gas. Among the participants were Brazil's vice-president, Geraldo Alckmin, and Bolivia's energy minister, Franklin Molina.
On the hydrocarbon front, the countries discussed investment projects in exploration and fertilizers plants. Although no details were mentioned about agreements reached during the meeting, Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), the Brazilian state company, is a critical player in Bolivia's hydrocarbon sector.
The energy company operates the San Alberto, Sabalo, Colpa, Caranda and Itau fields in Bolivia. Moreover, Petrobras conducts exploratory work in San Telmo Norte, in the Tarija province. Additionally, the company has stakes at the Astillero and Chuquisaca fields.
Bolivia has faced years of declining natural gas production, affecting its economy as it relies on natural gas exports to Brazil and Argentina. Therefore, investments in hydrocarbon exploration, especially for natural gas, are essential for Bolivia.
Last year, Bolivia produced 41 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, compared to about 60 million cubic meters in 2014. The lower natural gas flows limit exports to Bolivia's neighbors while domestic demand increases.
Meanwhile, on the lithium front, the Bolivian energy ministry said that the parties discussed the inauguration of the new lithium carbonate plant of Yacimiento de Litio Bolivianos (YLB), the Bolivian lithium mining company.
The plant, which is located at the Uyuni Salar, is expected to have a production capacity of 15,000 tons per year. Initially, the company hoped to inaugurate the asset in August and to produce about 2,000 tons by the end of the year. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Project Database can click here for a detailed project report.
At the same time, YLB has begun installing an experimental pilot plant for lithium extraction at Coipasa Salar, according to a statement by the company. YLB also is conducting design work on a planned 25,000 ton-per-year brine extraction and lithium carbonate plant at Coipasa Salar. Subscribers can click here for the project report.
The development of the Bolivian lithium industry is important for Brazil, which has a solid automotive sector and could become an electric battery manufacturing powerhouse.
More importantly, Brazil could seek to enter the Bolivian lithium industry. Earlier this year, Bolivian President Luis Arce met with Petrobras' president and discussed the energy company's interests in Bolivia's lithium industrialization.
Despite having the world's largest lithium resources with 21 million tons, according to the United States Geological Survey, Bolivia has yet to be a significant lithium producer as the government has nationalized the sector. So far, the current administration has closed deals with China and Russia for lithium investments and extraction.
Subscribers can click here for all the project reports mentioned in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
On the hydrocarbon front, the countries discussed investment projects in exploration and fertilizers plants. Although no details were mentioned about agreements reached during the meeting, Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), the Brazilian state company, is a critical player in Bolivia's hydrocarbon sector.
The energy company operates the San Alberto, Sabalo, Colpa, Caranda and Itau fields in Bolivia. Moreover, Petrobras conducts exploratory work in San Telmo Norte, in the Tarija province. Additionally, the company has stakes at the Astillero and Chuquisaca fields.
Bolivia has faced years of declining natural gas production, affecting its economy as it relies on natural gas exports to Brazil and Argentina. Therefore, investments in hydrocarbon exploration, especially for natural gas, are essential for Bolivia.
Last year, Bolivia produced 41 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, compared to about 60 million cubic meters in 2014. The lower natural gas flows limit exports to Bolivia's neighbors while domestic demand increases.
Meanwhile, on the lithium front, the Bolivian energy ministry said that the parties discussed the inauguration of the new lithium carbonate plant of Yacimiento de Litio Bolivianos (YLB), the Bolivian lithium mining company.
The plant, which is located at the Uyuni Salar, is expected to have a production capacity of 15,000 tons per year. Initially, the company hoped to inaugurate the asset in August and to produce about 2,000 tons by the end of the year. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Project Database can click here for a detailed project report.
At the same time, YLB has begun installing an experimental pilot plant for lithium extraction at Coipasa Salar, according to a statement by the company. YLB also is conducting design work on a planned 25,000 ton-per-year brine extraction and lithium carbonate plant at Coipasa Salar. Subscribers can click here for the project report.
The development of the Bolivian lithium industry is important for Brazil, which has a solid automotive sector and could become an electric battery manufacturing powerhouse.
More importantly, Brazil could seek to enter the Bolivian lithium industry. Earlier this year, Bolivian President Luis Arce met with Petrobras' president and discussed the energy company's interests in Bolivia's lithium industrialization.
Despite having the world's largest lithium resources with 21 million tons, according to the United States Geological Survey, Bolivia has yet to be a significant lithium producer as the government has nationalized the sector. So far, the current administration has closed deals with China and Russia for lithium investments and extraction.
Subscribers can click here for all the project reports mentioned in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
