LatinNews Daily - 10 July 2024

*Chile’s government led by President Gabriel Boric has announced that it has received 88 proposals for projects related to the exploration and exploitation of lithium following a request for information process, 81 of which it will consider. Speaking at a press conference, Mining Minister Aurora Williams said that most of the expressions of interest were made in areas that have the greatest geological potential for lithium, according to the national geological & mining service (Sernageomin). Of the total, 53 proposals related to 16 salt flats or salt lakes that are registered by Sernageomin, while another 28 related to other deposits. Seven proposals were for salt flats or areas excluded from the process and so will not be considered. Williams said that eight proposals were based in the region of Arica y Parinacota, 24 in Tarapacá, 40 in Antofagasta, and 16 in Atacama, all in the north of the country. Finance Minister Mario Marcel said that the government will announce the process to award lithium extraction contracts next month, and that it plans to provide updates on projects in April or May of next year. The mining ministry is currently working on a detailed analysis of the proposals, including the financial capacity of the companies involved, estimated annual production, technology used, experience in mining projects, level of progress of the project, and other criteria. Most of the proposals (59) were submitted by Chile-based firms, with proposals also coming from companies in Canada (11), Australia (4), Switzerland (4), the US (3), China (2), Singapore (2), the UK (1), Germany (1), and India (1).