Enami Signs Contract to Produce Lithium from Chile's Altoandinos Salt Flats

Written by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Enami (Santiago, Chile), the state Chilean company, signed the first Special Contract for Lithium Operations (CEOL) for the exploration and production of lithium for the Altoandinos salt flats. This CEOL marks a new era of lithium production in Chile, introduced by the incumbent President Gabriel Boric as part of the National Lithium Strategy in 2023.

The contract grants Enami the right to produce lithium in the Altoandinos salt flat until December 31, 2060. Earlier in the year, Enami selected Rio Tinto (London, England) as its partner for the project's development. Under the agreement, Rio Tinto will hold 51% of the shares and will contribute US$425 million in cash and non-cash elements, including its direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology.

The Altoandinos salt flats, which includes Aguilar, Grande, and La Isla salt flats, contains resources approximately of 15 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), projected to generate US$15 billion for Chile.

The project is expected to attract US$3 billion in investment, with production set to begin by 2032 until reaching an annual capacity of 75,000 tons.

Chile's minister of mines, Aurora Williams, highlighted that more CEOLs could be signed soon in the country. "We are waiting for the Comptroller's Office to approve the decree authorizing the CEOL for Codelco's project in the Maricunga Salt Flats. In addition, this week, two decrees were submitted to the Comptroller's Office establishing the requirements and conditions for CEOLs, which we hope to sign with private companies."

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