• The Mining Ministry will define the mechanisms for assigning Special Lithium Operation contracts for prioritized salt flats with the information obtained. An indigenous consultation process will be previously carried out in case there is susceptibility to direct impact. Details of the interested parties will be announced on July 9.

After 60 days of an open and transparent call to express interest in developing lithium exploration and extraction projects in Chile as part of the National Lithium Strategy, the period for receiving initiatives via the Mining Ministry’s digital platform closed this Monday, June 17.

There were more than 80 expressions of interest made by more than 50 companies and consortia from 10 countries. The background information stage will now begin, in which the areas that will be prioritized for the execution of projects and the mechanisms for assigning Special Lithium Operation Contracts will begin to be defined. An indigenous consultation process will be previously carried out in case there is susceptibility to direct impact.

«The National Lithium Strategy, promoted by President Gabriel Boric, is a long-term policy that involves a broad effort by the Government to best meet the goal of increasing wealth for the country. The request for information (RFI) process has involved working alongside the Economy, Treasury and Foreign Affairs ministries, the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO) and InvestChile to promote the process in a transparent manner, providing the most information possible to interested parties. The number of interested parties who contacted us from Chile and abroad are the best example that this collaborative work has been successful,» Mining Minister Aurora Williams stated.

She added, «it is important to highlight that, in parallel to the RFI process, Mining Ministry teams are deployed on the ground to maintain a permanent dialogue with local communities about the progress of the strategy. They are also carrying out two indigenous consultation processes: for the State-owned Copper Company’s (CODELCO) projects in Salar de Maricunga; and for the National Mining Corporation’s (ENAMI) Salares Altoandinos project. Furthermore, CORFO is developing an indigenous consultation process in the Salar de Atacama. All of this is in addition to the Science Ministry’s work to create the Lithium and Salt Flats Public Technological Research Institute, and the Environment Ministry’s commitment to begin studies to create the Network of Protected Salt Flats.»

Treasury Minister Mario Marcel expressed, «we must draw attention to the response that this Government and Mining Ministry call has had for expressions of interest in the lithium industry. I mean, we are talking about 88 proposals from 54 different companies from 10 different countries. This indicates a very wide interest in investing in this industry, that there is an understanding of how the process is being formulated and that, on completing this stage, we will be able to open a tender process with all the legal and procedural requirements so that these investments can be achieved.»

Detailed results from the request for information (RFI) process will be announced on Tuesday, July 9.