Bolivia to Invest More Than $1 Billion in Its Energy Sector

Approximately US$ 1 billion will be the budget allocated in 2019 for the national electric sector, lithium industrialization and research and nuclear medicine programs in Bolivia, Energy Minister Rafael Alarcon announced today.

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"We plan to spend it all this year, it's not a multi-year budget. That is the task of the entities that will be at the forefront of how they will spend these resources," said the government representative, at the 2019 Audience of Public Accountability in Initial Accounts with the participation of social organizations, such as the Bolivian Workers Union (COB), Bartolinas, FEJUVE, among others.

The Bolivian official said that the National Electricity Company will invest more than US$ 651 million, the Electricity Program to Live with Dignity US$ 4 million, and between Bolivian Lithium Deposits and the Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency US$ 373 million.

Resources for this endeavor will come from the entities' own resources, financing from the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB), external credits from financial institutions and from the General Treasury of the Nation (TGN).

Currently, Bolivia has the potential to produce 45,000 megawatts (MW) of energy through hydroelectric plants. "What we have done until today is 2,200 MW. This year we will incorporate more,"said Alarcón. The ministry in charge estimates an increase in electrical power to the National Interconnected System (SIN) of 1,000 MW in 2019.

The energy will be supplied through three combined cycle projects, whose construction are carried out in thermoelectric plants located in the regions of Warnes, Entre Ríos and Tarija, the latter with more than 97 percent progress.

They also maintain plans to build 41 evaporitic plants (lithium) in the country, as Bolivia has the world’s largest deposits with almost 21 million tons in Uyuni. While by September, the government of Evo Morales plans to begin operations of the Center for Research and Development in Nuclear Technology (CIDTN) located in the city of 
El Alto.

With the aim of becoming an energy powerhouse in the region, Bolivia also announced the signing of an agreement of intent with India to develop projects related to the industrialization of lithium, and the possible addition of the nation to the International Solar Alliance, a group from more than 100 countries that execute photovoltaic development initiatives.