He Marikunga Salt Flatlocated in the desert region of atacama North of ChillySalt flats have the second-highest lithium concentrations worldwide, as reported Tuesday by Chile’s National Copper Corporation (Codelco), with the state giant offering a “promising path” to the south this month. Concluded the exploration campaign in the area. American country.
According to the Chilean Copper Company, the drilling work completed during the exploration of the salt flats gives “auspicious results”, making the Salar de Maricuanga the second best on the planet, after the Salar de Atacama, Chile Me too.
“We are pleased with the results and the future that is starting to take shape at Salar de Mariquanga. While there are still many months of work to be done to determine a possible future project, so far the numbers are a positive one for Codelco and the country. show a promising path”, explained Maximo Pacheco, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Chile, the country with the most reserves to be exploited in the world, is the second world producer of lithium, behind Australia, but Argentina follows closely and could overtake it in the coming years.
Despite the fact that the South American country has more than 50 salt flats, only one is currently exploited, the Salar de Atacama, the largest in Chile and the third largest in the world and which concentrates 90% of the lithium reserves. does. Country.
According to the Autonomous Fiscal Council (CFA), in 2022 the state received more than $5,000 million for the exploitation of this mineral, which is equivalent to 1.6% of GDP.
Today only two companies are responsible for the exploitation of Chile’s lithium: Sociedad Quimica y Minera SQM, controlled by the Chinese company Tianqi and Julio Ponce Lerou, son-in-law of former dictator Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990); and American Albemarle. Both do so in the state-owned Salar de Atacama.
The State Corporation for the Promotion of Production (Corfo), the owner of the salt flats, this Wednesday gave Codelco a document that formalizes its new role and allows it to negotiate, on behalf of the state, ahead of the public-private alliance in Atacama. enables. Conclusion of existing leases.
According to the Autonomous Fiscal Council (CFA), in 2022 the state received more than $5,000 million for the exploitation of this mineral, which is equivalent to 1.6% of GDP.
According to the Central Bank, the sales of lithium carbonate abroad in 2022 were $7,763 million, up 777% from 2021.
(tags for translation)atacama
