now we have a second chance -- this time with lithium, which we call whihite gold. we hope not just to extract it, but to develop an entire production chain and process it ourselves. as a nation, we want to do it on our own terms. reporter: outside of town, there is a factory for rechargeable lithium batteries. it's is a major step forward for the country. now it's looking for international partners to help develop the industry -- without them tryrying to take control. bolivivia has passed a law tha says foreign firms may retain no more than a 49% stake in any joint venture. juanan: we are lookiking for a partner with experience who is also ablble to keep upup withe rapid innovavation in energy storage technology. that's our strategic goal. we wanant to be involved not oy in supplying batteteries for electric cars, but also renewable energies. reporter: of course, there's a lot of foreign interest in the huhuge deposit o of lithium ine saltlt flat of uyuyuni. chchina is particularly keen. a state-owned chinesee engineering company is already here. it's building a pl