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Released April 09, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Results from exploration of the La Isla and Aguilar salt flats in northern Chile have increased the nation's estimated lithium reserves by 28%. The salt flats are part of the Salares Altoandinos project owned by Empresa Nacional de Mineria (ENAMI), Chile's mining state company.
Based on the latest exploration efforts, the La Isla salt flat's estimated resources increased by 150% to reach 2.13 million tons of lithium or 11.3 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), with an average concentration of 896 parts per million (ppm), according to ENAMI.
Meanwhile, the Aguilar salt flat's estimated resources increased by 40% to 0.92 million tons of lithium or 4.9 million tons of LCE, with an average concentration of 524 ppm.
The latest results make the Salares Altoandinos project one of Chile's largest greenfield assets, with 3.05 million tons of lithium. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Project Database can click here for the project report.
"These results are important because we're moving from potential resources to certified and reviewed by a third party, and this confirms that Salares Altoandinos is a global project," said ENAMI Executive Vice President Iván Mlynarz.
ENAMI is preparing to choose a partner for the Salares Altoandinos project. Companies involved in the talks are BYD, Eramet, POSCO Holdings, and Rio Tinto. At the same time, CNGR Advanced Material Co. Ltd and LG Energy Solutions are interested in financing the project.
The new partner was expected to be disclosed by March, but the announcement was pushed to May.
"These are important data to keep in mind because we are weeks away from establishing the public-private partnership for this project that will bring lithium to the country from the Atacama Region," Mlynarz said. "The companies participating in the process must submit bids for this partnership, and ENAMI should determine the development partner with whom we will continue moving forward in May."
Chile has accelerated the development of its lithium industry following the national lithium strategy launched by President Gabriel Boric in 2023. Since then, the country has granted Codelco and ENAMI, the state mining companies, exploration and production rights in strategic areas such as the Atacama salt flats to spearhead lithium developments.
Companies like SQM, which already had lithium operations at the Atacama salt flat, have negotiated with state companies to develop the projects jointly.
Meanwhile, the government has already prioritized 12 lithium areas for private development, for which the current administration has received 80 manifestations of interest.
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 more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
Based on the latest exploration efforts, the La Isla salt flat's estimated resources increased by 150% to reach 2.13 million tons of lithium or 11.3 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), with an average concentration of 896 parts per million (ppm), according to ENAMI.
Meanwhile, the Aguilar salt flat's estimated resources increased by 40% to 0.92 million tons of lithium or 4.9 million tons of LCE, with an average concentration of 524 ppm.
The latest results make the Salares Altoandinos project one of Chile's largest greenfield assets, with 3.05 million tons of lithium. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Project Database can click here for the project report.
"These results are important because we're moving from potential resources to certified and reviewed by a third party, and this confirms that Salares Altoandinos is a global project," said ENAMI Executive Vice President Iván Mlynarz.
ENAMI is preparing to choose a partner for the Salares Altoandinos project. Companies involved in the talks are BYD, Eramet, POSCO Holdings, and Rio Tinto. At the same time, CNGR Advanced Material Co. Ltd and LG Energy Solutions are interested in financing the project.
The new partner was expected to be disclosed by March, but the announcement was pushed to May.
"These are important data to keep in mind because we are weeks away from establishing the public-private partnership for this project that will bring lithium to the country from the Atacama Region," Mlynarz said. "The companies participating in the process must submit bids for this partnership, and ENAMI should determine the development partner with whom we will continue moving forward in May."
Chile has accelerated the development of its lithium industry following the national lithium strategy launched by President Gabriel Boric in 2023. Since then, the country has granted Codelco and ENAMI, the state mining companies, exploration and production rights in strategic areas such as the Atacama salt flats to spearhead lithium developments.
Companies like SQM, which already had lithium operations at the Atacama salt flat, have negotiated with state companies to develop the projects jointly.
Meanwhile, the government has already prioritized 12 lithium areas for private development, for which the current administration has received 80 manifestations of interest.
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 more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
