Bolivia will launch South America's first plant producing lithium-ion batteries next year using Chinese technology, authorities said Sunday.

"We are talking about a launch in April or May when we will be producing lithium-ion batteries on a trial scale," said National Resources Management Board chief Alberto Echazu.

Bolivia has vast amounts of the rare mineral key to producing the latest generation of batteries for laptops, watches, cameras and cars.

President Evo Morales' government is keen to see the domestic economy benefit from producing batteries locally.