Bolivia’s Llipi Lithium Complex Produces Only 13.7% of Annual Capacity in 2024

The lithium industrial complex in Llipi, located in the department of Potosí, produced just 2,064 tons of lithium carbonate in 2024, falling well short of its planned annual capacity of 15,000 tons. This output represents only 13.7% of the facility’s expected production.

Omar Alarcón, executive president of Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB), provided a breakdown of the production figures, stating that the first four months of 2024 yielded 349.7 tons, the second four-month period saw 596.8 tons, and up to December, an additional 1,117.9 tons were produced.

Alarcón emphasized that despite the shortfall, production in 2024 saw a 118% increase compared to previous years, with the third four-month period alone marking an 87% rise in output. He highlighted that production processes at the Llipi plants are being optimized.

President Luis Arce inaugurated the Lithium Carbonate Industrial Plant in Uyuni on December 15, 2023. The facility, designed to produce 15,000 tons annually, was built with an investment of $110.2 million.

Data from the Final Public Accountability Report 2024 show that Bolivia’s lithium carbonate production has steadily increased in recent years, with 175.7 tons produced in 2020, 492.6 tons in 2021, 616.6 tons in 2022, and 948.4 tons in 2023. However, production levels remain well below the intended target, raising concerns about the operational efficiency of the Llipi facility.