Enami Shortlists Six Companies for Lithium Project

In a significant move, Chile’s National Mining Company (Enami) has selected Rio Tinto and five other companies to develop the Altoandinos lithium project in the Atacama Region. These companies will enter negotiations for a public-private partnership (PPP) aimed at tapping into the lithium resources in Chile’s Altoandinos salt flats.

Selected Companies

The selected firms include BYD Chile, CNGR Advanced Material, LG Energy Solution, Eramet Chile, and POSCO. This selection follows Enami’s call for partnerships in May 2024, seeking financial or operational support in exchange for a stake in the project.

Enami’s Strategic Pivot to Lithium

Enami, traditionally focused on copper processing, is now venturing into lithium production, a key component for batteries. The Altoandinos project looks to partner with firms demonstrating strong expertise and financial capability to support this significant effort.

Negotiation and Exploration Processes

The company plans to establish a PPP by March 2025, with negotiations already underway. The partnership will rely on technical information gathered from Enami’s exploration campaigns. Additionally, an indigenous consultation process is active to engage with local communities as part of a special operation contract from the Ministry of Mining.

Upcoming Developments

In September 2024, Enami will resume its exploration campaign to refine lithium resource estimates. Previously, twelve companies had shown interest in the project, indicating high industry expectations.

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