Twelve companies, including global mining giant Rio Tinto and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, have submitted proposals to extract lithium from Chile’s Altoandinos salt flats, as announced by the state mining company ENAMI. This region in northern Atacama is part of the Chilean government’s initiative to enhance lithium production through new partnerships.
ENAMI initiated its search for partners in May, looking for either financial or operational support for an ownership stake that has yet to be defined. Alongside Rio Tinto and BYD, other applicants include French miner Eramet, South Korea’s battery maker LG Energy Solution, and steel company Posco. Additional contenders consist of Argentina’s Tecpetrol, Russia’s Axionit, Canada’s Summit Nanotech, Chile’s Grupo Errazuriz, and Chinese companies CNRG and a consortium known as BTR.
Chile ranks as the world’s second-largest lithium producer, a critical component in batteries for electric vehicles. ENAMI plans to announce on August 19 which companies meet eligibility criteria, moving forward to negotiations with the shortlisted applicants.
ENAMI’s chief, Ivan Mlynarz, emphasized that the participation of these companies reinforces their commitment to establishing a public-private partnership to advance this project. ENAMI, which typically processes copper for local mining entities, has been tasked with leading the government’s initial ventures into lithium alongside state mining giant Codelco, which is also seeking a partner for the Maricunga salt flat.