Bolivia is making progress in encouraging new mining

“The government seeks to integrate activities by entering into new mining, in accordance with global progress and needs with the demand for minerals for technological use,” Minister of Mining and Minerals Marcelino Quispe said.

Al-Malik stated that these metals are elements used in new technologies with applications in the field of electronics, electric car batteries, electrical appliances, and others.

In this context, the Bolivian Mining Company (COMIBOL) and the Mining Geological Service (Sergiomin) have identified these technological minerals and rare earths in Independencia (Cochabamba), San Luis and Cotaje (Potosi), as well as in San Javier and Cerro del Mutón. (Santa Cruz), according to an institutional bulletin.

According to these sources, projects in Cerro Manomo identified 850 samples and in Rincon del Tigre 799 samples of minerals, both in Santa Cruz province.

Quispe explained that the goal is to achieve sustainable mining until 2050, through the presence of a long series of technological minerals and rare earths, the main application of which is towards renewable energies, electronics and other applications.

He stressed that the goal is to move from exploiting silver, tin, lead, zinc and gold to a new horizon for technological minerals and rare earths, for which the global demand is increasing due to the change in the global energy matrix.

Speaking to the press, the address was based on a map of areas with high potential that Bolivia possesses.

An important role in the transformation that this field is currently experiencing in the Andean and Amazonian country is played by the Department of Technological Minerals and Rare Earths of Comebol, which was created on March 23, 2023 by resolution.

Kispe, former president and ex-director of Comebol, was inaugurated in June 2023 as minister with the task of carrying out prospecting, exploration, exploitation, research and recovery of technological minerals and rare earths for their manufacturing.

OMR/JPY