After months of work, Bolivian state mining corporation YLB has opened its new pilot line for the production of lithium-ion battery cathode materials. The pilot line represents a key step in establishing a lithium industry in Bolivia.

YLB turned to ECM Greentech, a partner of CEA Tech institute Liten, to design and build the pilot line, which will produce high-added-value materials like LMO and NMC. ECM Greentech purchased, shipped, and installed the equipment. Liten trained Bolivian engineers in the theoretical and practical aspects of synthesizing and characterizing the materials they will be producing. The goal is to transform the country's unexploited lithium resources into marketable products.

The pilot line, designed to produce batches of around 1 kilogram per week, marks a crucial step forward for Bolivia's burgeoning lithium industry. The materials synthesized on the line meet performance specifications. Talks are currently underway to build a much larger production facility.