The deal is a gamechanger as it would give Germany access to 85% of Bolivia’s lithium production, in exchange for €300-€400 million greenfield investment. The German government is investing €1 billion into the battery manufacturing industry to significantly boost production in an attempt to hive off some of the sector’s market share, which is currently 90% dominated by Asian producers.
Lithium is a strategic resource in battery manufacturing and a key to the emerging car sector. According to Germany’s Economy Minister Peter Altmaier, the deal gives the country the possibility of emerging as a “leading location for battery cell production.”
Full article available: https://www.neweurope.eu/article/germany-secures-strategic-access-to-bolivian-lithium-production/