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B olivia's Energy and Mineral Resources Trade and Investments with C hina: Potential Socioeconomic and Environmental Effects of Lithium Extraction
Author(s) -
Valle Valeria Marina,
Holmes Héctor Cueto
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
latin american policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.195
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2041-7373
pISSN - 2041-7365
DOI - 10.1111/lamp.12007
Subject(s) - lithium (medication) , natural resource economics , economics , biology , endocrinology
In recent years, relations between C hina and B olivia have increased. On the one hand, C hina has scaled up positions as a B olivian trading partner; in particular, the Asian giant has continued to be one of the major contributors to B olivian mineral and energy industries. On the other hand, B olivia has increased its exportations to C hina by selling products—mainly raw materials—including minerals such as raw tin ore, tin, silver, zinc, lead, and antimony and hydrocarbons and lithium carbonate, used to produce electric vehicle batteries. The fact that B olivia is increasing its mineral sales to C hina could be considered good news; B olivia is rich in natural mineral and energy resources, but it is a country with poorly distributed wealth, and most of its indigenous and poor population is located in the Potosí region, where lithium is being extracted. This article will shed light on the potential negative socioeconomic and environmental effects that lithium extraction may have on these communities.