Chile to Consider 81 Private Sector Lithium Project Proposals | WKZO

SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Chilean officials said on Tuesday they will consider 81 lithium project proposals across the South American country, putting the country on track to exceed its goal of launching four new projects by the end of 2026.

In April, Chile called for applications at more than two dozen salt pans that contain the battery metal, in line with government goals to boost production. It is now the world’s second-largest producer.

The interested companies are based mainly in Chile, as well as in Canada, Australia, Switzerland, the United States, China, Singapore, England, Germany and India. They have submitted proposals for 16 salt pans, as well as other types of lithium-bearing deposits.

However, government representatives did not want to reveal the names of the companies that were interested.

Finance Minister Mario Marcel said the government would announce the process for awarding lithium mining contracts next month and potentially provide an update on the projects in April or May next year.

Officials said last month that the Mining Ministry had received proposals covering 88 potential projects.

The final list of candidates is stronger than expected, Marcel added, and could help Chile develop new projects faster by 2026, when the target date will be set. President Gabriel Boric’s term ends in March of this year.

Boric has sought to increase the state’s role in the country’s lithium industry, particularly in the Atacama salt flats, which have the highest concentration of lithium in the world, while also opening up less-explored deposits to private developers.

(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Editing by Daina Beth Solomon and Sarah Morland)