By Daina Beth Solomon
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Chilean state mining company ENAMI wants to start construction of its first lithium project in the country as early as 2027 or 2028, company chief Ivan Mlynarz told Reuters, as part of the government’s push to expand its role in the country’s production increase battery life. metal.
ENAMI, which carries out processes for local mining companies, has been tasked with leading the government’s first lithium initiatives together with state mining giant Codelco.
Chile is the world’s second-largest producer of lithium, a key material for most batteries that power electric vehicles. The global shift to electric cars has sparked a rush for the ultra-light metal among automakers and global powers.
ENAMI this month launched a search for a private partner that can provide financial or operational support for the project on three salt flats known as the Salares Altoandinos in the Atacama region of northern Chile.
Applicants must register by June 7, which will initiate a selection process that ENAMI aims to complete by March 2025.
“Right now we are developing the technology in principle so that the project can start construction around 2027 or 2028,” Mlynarz said in an interview on Wednesday, noting that the Finance Ministry aims to have new lithium production by 2030 to have in Chile.
“We are thinking of partners who will see this through to the end… partners with the financial backing to guarantee that resources are available, and who have the experience to develop a project like this,” Mlynarz added .
Only Chili’s SQM and US based Albemarle (NYSE:) currently produce lithium in Chile, which has the world’s largest reserves of white metal.
ENAMI expects to eventually produce about 60,000 tons of lithium per year at Altoandinos, Mlynarz said, although research is underway on lithium concentration and other data that will allow more accurate estimates.
ENAMI will take into account the amount of available lithium and the investments required to determine the size of its stake in the project, which covers almost 30,000 hectares of salt flats known as Aguilar, La Isla and Grande.
French lithium company Eramet bought mining concessions in the same salt flats last year, aiming to secure lithium approvals.
Mlynarz said a possible arrangement with Eramet would depend on the type of lithium extraction that would be used.
ENAMI received proposals in April from 30 companies, including Eramet, Rio Tinto (NYSE:) and LG Energy, to test the extraction technology. It will choose five to seven with the aim of using successful technology for future production.
