The president of Bolivia, Luis Arcesaid this Tuesday that he agreed with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putinthat the joint projects undertaken by both nations in Bolivia for the lithium exploitation and the development of nuclear technology are fully operational in 2025.
The president detailed to the media in La Paz the agreements reached with Putin during his recent visit to Russia, where he also participated in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
According to Arce, it was agreed that the project to which the Russian firm applied Uranium Oneone of the three that signed an agreement with Bolivia to apply its direct lithium extraction (EDL) technology in the Bolivian salt flats, “It has to come into operation in 2025″.
The president assured that the state Bolivian Lithium Deposits (YLB) and Uranium One “They will take all necessary measures so that this decision can be reached.“adopted”between both presidents”.
The same will happen in the case of Center for Research and Development in Nuclear Technology (Cidtn) set up in the city of El Alto, neighboring La Paz, and whose operation includes three phases, the president recalled.
The first phase was the nuclear medicine and radiotherapy center inaugurated in 2022 and the second, the irradiation center for seed improvement and pest control launched last year, he mentioned.
“These are the two stages that are complete and we now have the third stage, which is the temperature of the nuclear reactor. Without a doubt this is the most delicate and longest. And we have also agreed with President Vladimir Putin that this project be concluded by June 2025,” Arce stated.
With this, it is expected that the entire nuclear complex will be “in full operation in the middle of next year”he added.
Other agreements reached between Arce and Putin include the Russian support for Bolivia to buy liquid hydrocarbons to ensure its internal supply and the expansion of the “commercial base” of export from the South American nation to the Russian market with products such as coffee, pineapple, quinoa, hearts of palm and chocolate, among others.
Arce also noted that Russia showed its “total predisposition” for provide medicines to Bolivia and offered half scholarships for Bolivians who want to study in that country, with one year included so they can learn the language.
In addition, it was agreed with the University of Saint Petersburg to send professors to teach Russian at the Bolivian state language institute, and the recognition of the degrees achieved by Bolivian professionals in Russia will be facilitated, he indicated.
There is also an agreement for cooperation in sports, to improve the performance of Bolivian athletes, he added.
Arce highlighted his participation in the Saint Petersburg forum, in which he spoke about the so-called ‘Productive community social economic model‘ which he conceived together with other left-wing economists and which was launched in Bolivia in the governments of the ruling Movement towards Socialism (MAS).
He assured that with its model, Bolivia is “showing the world” that it is possible to have economic development and “reduction of poverty and inequalities” in an adverse global context.
Bolivia and Russia have a marked political affinity that has even led the South American country to abstain from voting on United Nations resolutions condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(With information from EFE)
