Japan, Bolivia to cooperate on lithium development

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TOKYO, Dec. 8 Kyodo -
Japan and Bolivia agreed Wednesday that the two countries will cooperate on the
development of lithium, a key resource in producing electric vehicle batteries,
in the Latin American country, which possesses about half of the world's
lithium reserves.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan and visiting Bolivian President Evo Morales reaffirmed
in their joint statement that Japanese firms will take part in a pilot project
that is expected to pave the way for commercial extraction of lithium in
Bolivia.
''Bolivia has a lot of resources, and Japan would like to work together with
Bolivia to develop these resources, and also cooperate in human resource
development (for related industries) '' Kan said at the outset of their
meeting.
The two leaders welcomed a planned joint study at Kyoto University on
technologies to utilize the resource by Bolivian and Japanese researchers.
Kan and Morales also confirmed that the two countries will jointly work on a
geothermal power plant project in the Latin American country.
Japan is set to extend yen loans to fund the project, offering the first credit
since Tokyo canceled Bolivia's debts in 2004 and 2006 in consideration of the
Latin American country's status as a poor nation.
The Japanese premier proposed that the two countries will hold a seminar on
economic development in Bolivia next February and the president welcomed the
offer.
On global issues, Kan and Morales agreed that the two countries will cooperate
for the success of the ongoing U.N. climate conference in Mexico and promote
reforms of the United Nations, including rejuvenating its General Assembly and
enhancing the effectiveness of the Security Council.
Earlier in the day, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata conveyed
Tokyo's strong hope to Morales that Bolivia would offer a stable supply of
lithium to Japan.
With demand for lithium ion batteries expected to surge, attention is growing
on Bolivia as a country abundant in lithium reserves, although it has not yet
started commercial production of the resource.
In addition to Japan, countries such as China, South Korea, France and Brazil
have shown interest in joining lithium development projects in Bolivia,
according to Japanese officials.
Bolivia aims to begin the commercial production of lithium around 2014.
Morales told a news conference at the Japan National Press Club that Bolivia
aims to add value to lithium it possesses and build industries based on
extracted resources.
''Our ultimate goal would be producing lithium batteries and install them in
environment-friendly vehicles manufactured in Bolivia,'' the president said.
He spoke highly of Japan's auto industries represented by such manufacturers as
Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., and expressed
hope that Japan and Bolivia will together contribute to curbing global warming
by promoting electric vehicles with batteries made from Bolivian lithium.
At present, Chile is the world's biggest lithium producer.
In November, the government-backed Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp.
agreed with the Bolivian government to participate in the experimental project
on lithium extraction.
The project to develop technology to produce lithium from brine water in the
Uyuni salt lake in southwestern Bolivia involves Japanese trading houses
Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp.
==Kyodo
2010-12-08 23:03:20