Bolivia Is the Saudi Arabia of Lithium

tcd004 writes "You can literally scrape valuable lithium off the ground of many Bolivian salt flats. The country is poised to be the center of world lithium battery production, reaping the benefit of the metal's skyrocketing value. 'The US 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. ... Ailing automakers in the United States are pinning their hopes on lithium. General Motors next year plans to roll out its Volt, a car using a lithium-ion battery along with a gas engine. Nissan, Ford and BMW, among other carmakers, have similar projects.' However, the government fears foreign countries might exploit their natural resources, so for the time being, the salt flats remain untouched."

Comments

Aling car manufacturers need lithium ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Ailing automakers in the United States are pinning their hopes on lithium

Yeah, they really need to be taking their meds now - can't have those manic-depressives (oops - it's now "bi-polar syndrome") getting all manic and building even bigger hummers.

Re:Where Will the Money Go? Pollution Concerns?

[CubicleView]

Hi, I'm Boliva, I find your ideas intriguing and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Operation Bolivian Freedom shall commence!

[echtertyp]

It's clearly time to bring democracy to Bolivia.

Re:Did not say recyclable, said renewable

[Kral_Blbec]

Wow, a linux analogy for a car on slashdot? I think I've seen it all now.

Great news!

[cashman73]

When do we start bombing the country?

crap

[jollyreaper]

So does this mean that the next president after Obama should start practicing holding hands and kissing cheeks or whatever men do in Bolivia? I'd actually have to compliment Obama on his reserve, only "bowing" to the sheik instead of playing kissy-face like Bush did.

Re:Can't Help but be Supportive

[moondawg14]

Strip-mining prevents forest fires.

Re:Can't Help but be Supportive

[Chris Burke]

Well, Bolivia has other resources. Heck, I'm betting that one of the problems with opening up the salt flats for lithuim harvesting, is the cocaine industry there. I'm guessing they don't want the competition for US dollars?

The cocaine industry is already pissed at the lithium industry, ever since they convinced GM to cancel their cocaine-powered vehicle, the Chevy White Horse, and their proposed cocaine-heroin hybrid, the Saturn Speedball (to be called the Belushi in the North American market), in favor of the Volt.

Re:Where Will the Money Go? Pollution Concerns?

[vux984]

Is this sounding like a familiar political system?

I read about such a thing in school. I hope they bring it to the USA one day. ;)

Re:Can't Help but be Supportive

[hwyhobo]

Nowadays those resources are not as important to survival anymore. Nowadays, you can simply offer services over the Internet

You mean entire regions can survive on porn alone?

Re:Can't Help but be Supportive

[cayenne8]

"The cocaine industry is already pissed at the lithium industry, ever since they convinced GM to cancel their cocaine-powered vehicle, the Chevy White Horse, and their proposed cocaine-heroin hybrid, the Saturn Speedball (to be called the Belushi in the North American market), in favor of the Volt."

Well, to be honest, the best car for the coke industry was the Delorean.

All you had to do, was "snort start" it, and it would follow any white line down the road....

:)

Re:Can't Help but be Supportive

[justin12345]

Between the lithium and the cocaine, Bolivia may be poised to be the most energetic nation on the planet.