Русский
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, met with Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Rio de Janeiro on April 29. Bolivia has recently joined the BRICS as a Partner nation.
The Bolivian government has been facing pressure over its awarding of strategic lithium mining concessions to both Russia and China. Bolivia has the world’s largest lithium reserves, a crucial component in EV batteries. Russia’s Uranium One, along with Chinese companies CBC and Citic Guoan Group, were chosen last year to set up pilot DLE plants in Bolivia, which are expected to expand to industrial-scale operations over time. The Bolivian government has set a target of exporting 50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent each year, aiming to establish the country as a key player in the global lithium supply chain, particularly for electric vehicle batteries. However, political opposition to the deal has delayed its implementation.
Additionally, Russia’s Gazprom International has said it has exited the Azero block in Bolivia where it held a 50% operating interest, with France’s TotalEnergies holding the remaining shareholding. That is a 4,800 square-kilometre block in the Andes foothills. Gazprom and TotalEnergies had held stakes in Azero since 2008, but an exploration well drilled to a depth of 5,830 metres did not hold commercial volumes of gas reserves, according to Gazprom.
Bolivia’s bilateral trade with Russia has experienced notable variations, and is currently running at about US$100 million, however Bolivia’s participation in BRICS has been expected to positively influence trade relations. The main products that Russia currently exports to Bolivia are vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures, medicines and refined petroleum. The main products that Bolivia traditionally exports to Russia are carbonates, inorganic salts, coconuts, and other nuts.
How this can be enhanced is now a political issue with an increasing trade in Bolivian minerals under pressure from foreign actors also wishing to access Bolivian reserves.
Further Reading
BRICS, Russia, and Bolivia: 2024 Developments and Implications
