LatinNews Daily - 13 August 2025

*The commission for the economy, industry, and production in Bolivia’s lower chamber of congress has approved a proposed contract between the state lithium company Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) and Russia’s Uranium One Group. The commission approved the contract in general with nine votes in favour, two against, and four spoiled votes, and in detail with eight votes in favour, three against, and four spoiled votes. The contract, which now proceeds to the lower chamber for a plenary vote, has been controversial since it was announced in September 2024, with the political opposition alleging a lack of transparency in the tender process, and community organisations in the Uyuni salt flats, where the lithium would be extracted, expressing concern about the impact on water supply. President Luis Arce’s government argues that the contract will kickstart Bolivia’s latent lithium sector with a US$976m investment and will produce up to 14,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium carbonate.

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