Bolivia's China-funded steel plant set to begin operations after 50 years of delays

The Mutun Steel Complex, a major Chinese-financed industrial plant in eastern Bolivia, is reportedly set to be inaugurated on February 24, marking the end of decades-long delays. Once operational, the plant will meet half of Bolivia's domestic steel demand and play a pivotal role in reducing the country's reliance on imports.

Funded by the Export-Import Bank of China, the $546 million plant is expected to produce 200,000 tonnes of steel annually, including rebar and wire mesh, with a projected value of $260 million. The facility will process 66,000 tonnes of raw materials per month from the Cerro Mutun deposit, one