The list of companies is made up of Axionit, from Russia; Besalco and Grupo Errázuriz-IBC from Chile, BTR Consorcio, BYD and CNRG from China, together with Eramet from France, LG Energy Solution and Posco from South Korea, plus Rio Tinto from Australia, Summit Nanotech – HATCH from Canada and Tecpetrol from Argentina .

The National Mining Company (Enami) of Chile announced this Thursday that various companies and consortiums presented 12 expressions of interest to develop and finance lithium projects in Salares Altoandinos, in the context of the National Lithium Strategy.

The list of companies is made up of Axionit (Russia); Besalco (Chile); BTR Consortium (China); BYD (China); CNRG (China); Eramet (France); Errázuriz Group – IBC (Chile); LG Energy Solution (South Korea); Posco (South Korea); Rio Tinto (Australia); Summit Nanotech – HATCH (Canada) and Tecpetrol (Argentina). The market value of all these companies totals US$280 billion, according to Enami.

In a session chaired by the Minister of Mining, Aurora Williams, today the results of the expression of interest process were announced, giving way to a process of analysis and evaluation regarding the admissibility requirements, where the results will be announced on the 19th. of August.

After the latter, a negotiation period will open with those selected.

The executive vice president of Enami, Iván Mlynarz, valued the interest of the various companies to venture into lithium projects in Salares Altoaldinos.

“This confirms the conviction of these companies to advance in a public-private alliance process to materialize this project and also reflects the trust and credibility that Enami awakens in the sector, said Mlynarz.

During June, the state company delivered progress on the concentration of lithium in the Salar Aguilar, belonging to the Salares Altoandinos initiative.

In detail, it was found that -preliminarily- an average concentration of lithium, total of 740 mg/l, with maximums of 984 mg/l. This corresponds to brine samples taken in the first 300 meters of drilling.

Such data was classified as “hopeful” by the vice president of Enami, confirming that “this is a great project, one of the most important in the world of lithium.”

In May of this year, the National Mining Company formally launched the expression of interest process for companies and consortia interested in developing the Salares Altoandinos lithium project in the Atacama Region.

The call to interested companies seeks to form a public-private alliance with ENAMI for the development and operation of the project, or to provide financing for the initiative, which is key within the framework of the National Lithium Strategy.

ENAMI is investing US$10.5 million for the basic exploration campaign in the Aguilar, Grande and La Isla salt flats, part of the High Andean Salt Flats for which the state company has requested a CEOL (Special Lithium Operation Contract) from the Ministry of Mining. This is in process and with an indigenous consultation process in development, according to ILO Convention 169.