Bolivia's election of centrist Rodrigo Paz is raising cautious hopes that a more market-friendly leader could pave the way for international investment in the country's ample lithium reserves after years of false starts under two decades of socialist rule.
Bolivia holds the world's largest resources of the ultralight metal used in electric vehicle batteries, but development has been hamstrung by political opposition and a law mandating state control of the sector that has chilled broad investor interest.
Lithium deals under outgoing President Luis Arce with companies from allies China and Russia were blocked in Congress, and Paz has said he would scrutinize the contracts to ensure transparency, a move that could create fresh opportunities but also spark investor jitters.
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