Bolivia has taken significant strides to secure its place in the global nuclear and lithium sectors through partnerships with Russia and China. In El Alto, a collaboration between Russia’s state-run nuclear firm Rosatom and Bolivia’s nuclear agency is on track to deliver the nation’s first nuclear research reactor. 

The BR-01 reactor, set to become the world’s highest-altitude nuclear facility at over 4,000 metres, will use Russian-made fuel produced at Rosatom’s Novosibirsk plant. After passing rigorous quality inspections, the fuel is scheduled for delivery in 2025, signalling Bolivia’s unique standing as the first South American country to use Russian nuclear fuel.

The El Alto Centre for Research and Development in Nuclear Technology (CIDTN) will comprise facilities like the Cyclotron Preclinical Radiopharmacy Complex and the Multipurpose Irradiation Centre, both of which are already operational. Once fully established, the CIDTN will enable Bolivia to produce pharmaceuticals and radioisotopes for medical use, enhance diagnostic capabilities, and train future experts in nuclear science. This venture also boosts Rosatom’s global reach, reinforcing Russian-Bolivian cooperation in advanced technologies.

Beyond nuclear energy, Bolivia’s focus on lithium has attracted investments from both Russia and China. The Uyuni salt flats, one of the world’s largest lithium reserves, have become the centre of a $970mn partnership between Bolivia’s Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) and Russia’s Uranium One Group. This agreement includes constructing facilities that will produce up to 14,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology.

China’s involvement in Bolivia’s lithium industry is also expanding. The Chinese company Citic Guoan, in collaboration with YLB, is developing lithium plants in Uyuni and Pastos Grandes, aiming to produce 50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually. With a projected investment of $1.4bn, Citic Guoan brings experience from building the world’s largest DLE plant and is expected to drive Bolivia’s lithium-based economic growth further. Meanwhile, interest from BRICS members in Bolivia's vast reserves of "white gold" is set to grow as the nation was admitted to the trade bloc as a "partner country" during last week's summit in Kazan.

While these partnerships advance Bolivia’s technological and economic ambitions, the growing dependency on Russian and Chinese resources and expertise raises concerns about the country’s long-term sovereignty and its role within these powers’ larger geopolitical games.