Bolivia's President Evo Morales gives a press conference at the presidential palace in La Paz, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP
A work cuts salt bricks during the ceremony in which Bolivian President Evo Morales received the first laboratory samples from Uyuni - the largest salt flats in the world, at the state-run Lithium Pilot Plant in Rio Grande on October 29, 2009. Bolivia has half of the world's known reserves of lithium -- a key mineral used in medicine and especially in rechargeable batteries, as well as everything from cell phones and laptops to electric cars. With demand for lithium expected to boom in coming years, Bolivia -- one of the poorest countries in South America -- is sitting on something potentially more valuable than a gold mine. Bolivian officials say there are 100 million tonnes of lithium under this desolate, 10,000 square kilometre tourist attraction. TOPSHOTS AFP PHOTO/Aizar RALDES (Photo credit should read AIZAR RALDES/AFP/Getty Images)
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Bolivia's President Evo Morales helicopter takes off in the Salar de Uyuni salt desert, southern Bolivia, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km² (4,085 square miles) and holds around half the world's reserves of lithium. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP
A caterpillar works at the Rio Grande lithium pilot plant prior to a visit of Bolivia's President Evo Morales in the Salar de Uyuni salt desert , in southern Bolivia, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km² (4,085 square miles) and holds around half the world's reserves of lithium. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP
Bolivia's President Evo Morales, left, holds lithium carbonate and potassium containers produced at the Rio Grande lithium pilot plant as Bolivia's Mining Minister Roberto Ichazu points looks on during a visit to the facility in Salar de Uyuni, southern Bolivia Thursday October 29, 2009. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km² (4,085 square miles) and holds around half the world's reserves of lithium. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP
Workers are seen at the Rio Grande lithium pilot plant in the Salar de Uyuni, in southern Bolivia, before a visit by Bolivia's President Evo Morales Thursday October 29, 2009. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km² (4,085 square miles) and holds around half the world's reserves of lithium. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP
** ADDS WORD LITHIUM IN FIRST SENTENCE ** A worker carries a piece of salt at a lithium pilot plant in the Salar de Uyuni, in southern Bolivia, before a visit by Bolivia's President Evo Morales Thursday October 29, 2009. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km² (4,085 square miles) and holds around half the world's reserves of lithium. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP
A Quechua woman walks along a dessert of salt during a visit to the Rio Grande lithium pilot plant by Bolivia's President Evo Morales, in the Salar de Uyuni, in southern Bolivia, Thursday October 29, 2009. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km² (4,085 square miles) and holds around half the world's reserves of lithium. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP
A caterpillar works at the Rio Grande lithium pilot plant prior to a visit of Bolivia's President Evo Morales in the Salar de Uyuni salt desert , in southern Bolivia, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km² (4,085 square miles) and holds around half the world's reserves of lithium. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP
A worker carries a piece of salt at pilot plant in the Salar de Uyuni, in southern Bolivia, before a visit by Bolivia's President Evo Morales Thursday October 29, 2009. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km² (4,085 square miles) and holds around half the world's reserves of lithium. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP