Bolivia Moves to Exploit Economic and Energy Potential of Vast Lithium Deposits

Interview with Jim Shultz, executive director of the Democracy Center in Cochabamba, Bolivia, conducted by Scott Harris

Bolivia, the poorest nation in South America, has a proud history of militant protest by its citizens demanding the nationalization of the country's energy resources to benefit the impoverished indigenous majority. That same progressive movement elected Evo Morales, of the Movement Towards Socialism party President in 2005, and he quickly moved to take control of the nation's oil and gas industries.

Now, with the world searching for alternatives to polluting fossil fuels, whose CO2 emissions are one of the principle causes of global climate change, Bolivia's vast deposits of the mineral Lithium are attracting international attention. Lithium, a key component for the manufacture of advanced batteries necessary to power a new generation of carbon neutral electric cars, could prove to be a significant future source of wealth for poor Bolivians. A recent report of similar large deposits of Lithium and other valuable minerals in Afghanistan released by the Pentagon, was viewed by many as a bit of propaganda to rally fading support for the war.

A report titled, "Bolivia and its Lithium: Can the 'Gold of the 21st Century' Lift a Nation out of Poverty," published by the Democracy Center in May, examines the economic potential, environmental costs and foreign capital necessary to launch a large scale lithium mining project in Bolivia. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Jim Shultz, executive director of the Democracy Center in Cochabamba, Bolivia, who assesses the rewards and dangers of lithium mining and production for the people of Bolivia.

Visit the Democracy Center website at www.DemocracyCTR.org to read a copy of their lithium report.

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