BOLIVIA PERMITS BULK EXPORT OF WATER TO CHILE
By
Dr. William M. Turner
In November, 2001, the Parliament of Bolivia approved the Water Export Law. The Water Export Law permits the exportation of water from the Department of Potosi.
The export project which has prompted the law is the Bolivian Water Resources Corporation (COBOREH) which plans to begin export of 800 liters per second. This will rise to 2,000 liters per second at the end of the second year of the project and 3,000 liters per second at the conclusion of the third year. Income to the Department would rise from $1,261,440 in the first year to $7,639, 154 in the third year. COBOREH plans to invest $80 million in the project. They expect that gross income in the third year will be $76 million
Chilean mining companies that will utilize the water include Do6na Ines de Collahuasi (Falcon
bridge Ltd, Minorco, Mitsu & Co. Ltd), The Hidden One, Chilex River. S.A. (River Algom Ltd), Codelco, Essan and other smaller companies.Visits since June 16, 2004
