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Released November 10, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land Texas)
Enami completed a preliminary economic assessment for the Altoandinos project, which would operate for 28 years, producing 75,000 tons per year, with US$3.2 billion in projected investment. The project includes the Aguilar, La Isla, and Grande salt flats, with the first two together holding 16 million tons in resources. Earlier this year, Enami selected Rio Tinto (London, England) as its project partner.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can learn more by viewing the project report.
Rio Tinto provided US$425 million in cash and non-cash contributions to join the project, including its direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, owned through its acquisition of Arcadium lithium earlier this year.
"Both the CChEN permit and the closure of the PEA are further proof of the enormous potential of Salares Altoandinos, the country's most important greenfield lithium project, and leave the door open to more than double production capacity, which will be evaluated in the following stages, subject to conditions related to the estimation of resources and reserves, as well as obtaining an RCA consistent with said quota," said Enami Executive Vice President Iván Mlynarz.
The Chilean government recently opened several salt flats to private tenders to attract international interest in exploiting the country's riches. Last year, the current administration reported receiving 88 expressions of interest across the salt flats offered, though it has yet to name the process winners.
Since then, Enami and Codelco, state-owned miners with access to prime lithium areas under Chile's national lithium strategy, have announced partnerships with Rio Tinto. Together, they will develop the Altoandinos and Maricunga salt flats.
Industrial Info is currently tracking 31 lithium mining projects across Chile, totaling US$11.3 billion in investments.
Key Takeaways
About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Summary
Enami received approval to produce 545,000 tons of lithium from the Altoandinos salt flats through 2060, with the possibility of further expanding volumes to 1.2 million tons. Chilean lithium projects continue to be announced as they receive approvals and garner international interest.Lithium Go-Ahead
The Chilean Commission of Nuclear Energy (CChEN) authorized Enami (Santiago, Chile), the state miner, to extract 545,000 metric tons of lithium metallic equivalent (LME) from the Altoandino salt flatsuntil 2060, with the capacity to expand the output to 1.220 million tons.Enami completed a preliminary economic assessment for the Altoandinos project, which would operate for 28 years, producing 75,000 tons per year, with US$3.2 billion in projected investment. The project includes the Aguilar, La Isla, and Grande salt flats, with the first two together holding 16 million tons in resources. Earlier this year, Enami selected Rio Tinto (London, England) as its project partner.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can learn more by viewing the project report.
Rio Tinto provided US$425 million in cash and non-cash contributions to join the project, including its direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, owned through its acquisition of Arcadium lithium earlier this year.
"Both the CChEN permit and the closure of the PEA are further proof of the enormous potential of Salares Altoandinos, the country's most important greenfield lithium project, and leave the door open to more than double production capacity, which will be evaluated in the following stages, subject to conditions related to the estimation of resources and reserves, as well as obtaining an RCA consistent with said quota," said Enami Executive Vice President Iván Mlynarz.
The Expansion of Lithium Projects
In July, CChEN also permitted Codelco (Santiago) and SQM (Santiago) to exploit up to 2.5 million tons of LME between 2031 and 2060. The permit may expand to 3.018 million tons of LME, pending further studies.The Chilean government recently opened several salt flats to private tenders to attract international interest in exploiting the country's riches. Last year, the current administration reported receiving 88 expressions of interest across the salt flats offered, though it has yet to name the process winners.
Since then, Enami and Codelco, state-owned miners with access to prime lithium areas under Chile's national lithium strategy, have announced partnerships with Rio Tinto. Together, they will develop the Altoandinos and Maricunga salt flats.
Industrial Info is currently tracking 31 lithium mining projects across Chile, totaling US$11.3 billion in investments.
Key Takeaways
- Enami is allowed to exploit 545,000 tons of lithium from the Altoandinos salt flat with the possibility of expanding volumes to 1.2 million tons
- The project is expected to have a capacity of 75,000 tons of LCE per year.
- State miners Enami and Codelco have closed deals with Rio Tinto to develop key salt flats.
About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
