Rio Tinto, Eramet, BYD eligible for Chile’s Altoandinos lithium project

Miners Rio Tinto (ASX, LON, NYSE: RIO) and Eramet (EPA: ERA), along with Chinese EV-maker BYD and battery maker LG Energy, are among the six companies eligible to proceed with proposals to develop a lithium project in Chile’s Altoandinos salt flats, state-run mining company Enami said on Thursday.According to Enami, the companies met the eligibility requirements and will be able to participate in the negotiation process in which a partner will be chosen with whom the state company will form a public-private partnership for the operation in the Atacama Region.The list also includes CNGR Advanced Material Co. Ltd (China) and POSCO Holdings Inc. (South Korea).The salt flats in the northern region of Atacama are one of the areas where the Chilean government aims to boost lithium production in partnership with the state by initiating new projects.The government’s goal is to increase local production of the battery metal by 70% within a decade, with three or four new projects under development by 2026.ENAMI launched its search in May, seeking a partner to offer either financial backing or operational support in Altoandinos, for an ownership stake that has yet to be determined.Twelve companies initially expressed interest.Enami aims to formalize a public-private partnership by March 2025.“We are moving forward with concrete actions for the National Lithium Strategy, with this announcement of the companies that meet the high selection standards,” Enami chief Ivan Mlynarz said in a statement.Salares AltoandinosThe Salares Altoandinos project spans about 100 square miles in the Atacama region. Comprised of three undeveloped salt flats, the project is projected to produce 20,000 metric tons by 2032 and triple that by 2037, according to government estimates.In June, Enami released the first results from a $10.5 million drilling campaign, with brine samples at the Aguilar flat showing an average concentration of 740 milligrams of lithium per liter.(With files from Reuters)Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com