The Chacaltaya Glacier is gone

The Chacaltaya Glacier is gone

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Lithium can save the world

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Lithium can save the world – and Bolivia The SUV in front of us accelerates to 110 km/h and speeds over the salt plain. In 2008, the Bolivian government initiated a pilot plant to extract lithium, the world’s lightest metal, which might not only make billions of bolivianos flow into Bolivia's national coffers. It could also be instrumental in saving Planet Earth from the consequences of carbon emissions. Lithium is an indispensable element of the batteries which will power the electric cars that are in the pipelines of all carmakers right now. Underneath the hard salt surface covering the 10,000 square kilometre salt lake of Salar de Uyuni are nothing less than 5.4 million tonnes of lithium – or the equivalent of half the remaining global resources – just waiting to be extracted. »Lithium is very important for us – and for the world«, Bolivia’s minister of mining and metals, Luis Alberto Echazú, has said. See photos from the pilot plant and the surreal natural phenomenon of Salar de Uyuni here.
	The pilot plant and the salt desert See photos from the pilot plant and the surreal natural phenomenon of Salar de Uyuni here. Open gallery Salar de Uyuni is the world’s biggest salt late, covering an area of 10,000 square kilometres, or the equivalent of Sealand. Underneath the rock-solid, shiny, white surface, 5.4 million tonnes of lithium – or half of the world’s known reserves – are waiting to be extracted. Lithium drilling in the middle of the merciless salt lake is hard, lonely, and not the least dry work. Temperatures vary from plus 20 degrees during the daytime to minus 25 degrees at night. That is one of the most considerable temperature differentials anywhere in the world. The staff works shifts of up to one week. It is difficult to imagine a world more flat and white than Salar de Uyuni. In the middle of the huge salt lake, in which the sun rays are reflected to an extent that causes risk snow blindness, a drilling team is trying to find the most efficient method of lifting brine, from which the valuable metal lithium can be extracted. When the brine has been lifted up into the light, it only contains 2-3 grams of lithium per litre. Before it is worthwhile extracting the metal at the pilot plant on the shore, the brine has to go through several phases of evaporation. Among other things, water, salt, and potassium must be separated. The end result should be a lithium content of 40-50 grams per litre. When the plant has carried out the last refinement process, it will end up with pure lithium – the world’s lightest metal and an essential element of the batteries which will power electric cars. The members of the drilling team in the middle of the salt lake are dressed and protected according to the rules. If you do not protect your eyes, you might become snow blind. One of the aims of the Bolivian government’s lithium pilot plant is to find out how to lift the lithium-rich brine from the salt lake in the most environmentally friendly way. It is important to protect Salar de Uyuni which is a totally unique natural phenomenon. Separating salt from the brine is only the first phase of a long refinement process. Although it is time-consuming, it will be worth the effort, once the extraction process is in place. Lithium is in great demand because of its many applications. Most users of modern technology probably already know the metal from the lithium batteries that power our mobile phones, laptops, and many other types of electronic equipment. In comparison with traditional nickel batteries, the lithium batteries are both considerably lighter, much more durable, and have a substantially longer product life. Marcelo Castro is in charge of the Bolivian government’s lithium pilot plant, and since the work started, he has been a popular man courted by journalists from all over the world. Although he is an ordinary labourer with dry, dirty hands, he is also a skilled rhetorician: »We are doing something good for the planet, and right now I am responsible. That’s why I’m so popular,« he explains. There is something profoundly surreal about moving into the giant Salar de Uyuni salt lake. There is a magic light, the contours are shimmering, and the land that can be seen many kilometres away looks as if it is drifting in the air. The ostrich standing in the middle of it all does nothing to alleviate the abstract impression.
	Isla Pescada’ The Isla Pescada’ ’island’ is situated in the middle of the barren Salar de Uyuni salt lake. The island is shaped like a fish, thus the name. It is a unique place with tall cactuses and strange hares. The cactuses are up to 10 metres tall, and some of them are more than 700 years old. There is a terrific view from the highest point of the island. Open panorama The Isla Pescada’ ’island’ is situated in the middle of the barren Salar de Uyuni salt lake. The island is shaped like a fish, thus the name. It is a unique place with tall cactuses and strange hares. The cactuses are up to 10 metres tall, and some of them are more than 700 years old. There is a terrific view from the highest point of the island.
	Uyuni Driving into Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, the world’s biggest salt lake, the first word that comes to mind is ’nothing’. The hexagonal salt, brutally reflecting the sun's rays, seems to go on forever. The lake is the size of Sealand, and the only landmarks are the mountains on the horizon. Open panorama Driving into Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, the world’s biggest salt lake, the first word that comes to mind is ’nothing’. The hexagonal salt, brutally reflecting the sun's rays, seems to go on forever. The lake is the size of Sealand, and the only landmarks are the mountains on the horizon.