Some of these projects will allow the development of polymetallic mining, lithium extraction projects contained in clays, geothermal sources, among others.
The Chilean Ministry of Mining, within the framework of the National Lithium Strategy, announced the opening of a new process to assign Lithium Operating Contracts (CEOL) in six new priority areas.
These are deposits “of great interest for the development of exploration and exploitation projects for lithium and other minerals.”
Some of these projects will allow the development of polymetallic mining, lithium extraction projects contained in clays, geothermal sources, among others.
“With this, the National Lithium Strategy will promote innovations in lithium exploration and exploitation in ways other than the traditional brine extraction,” said the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The deposits included in this call are: Hilaricos and Quillagua Norte sectors, in the Tarapacá region and part of the Antofagasta region; and Quillagua Este, Quillagua Sur, María Elena Este and Cerro Pabellón sectors, in the Antofagasta region.
For each of these priority areas, only one CEOL will be delivered, it was explained.
The Minister of Mining, Aurora Williams, indicated that with this announcement “we have completed a total of 12 priority areas for the allocation of CEOLes to national and international private companies or consortia, which represents 50% of the valid expressions of interest.”
For his part, the Minister of Economy, Nicolás Grau, said that they prioritized these six deposits, which are added to the six saline systems announced in September, "to quickly take advantage of the economic benefits and opportunities that lithium opens up."
Grau stressed that the National Lithium Strategy involves “employment, supplier development, innovation and technology.”
Allocation mechanism
To enable this process in these new deposits, the respective indigenous consultations will be initiated "as soon as possible in all cases where there is a susceptibility of affecting indigenous communities," the Executive stated.
Once the consultation for each case is concluded, and the supreme decree establishing the requirements and conditions of the CEOL is issued, public tenders will be opened, the rules and conditions of which will be contained in the respective bases that will be announced during the year 2025.
"The process involves a simplified procedure that will speed up the execution of CEOLes in these six priority deposits, in order to ensure the prompt execution of the most viable projects," said the Mining Department.
Those interested in participating in the simplified procedure in all these polygons will have until January 31, 2025 to submit an application for CEOL by saline system, and must attach documents that prove that they meet the indicated requirements.
Once compliance with the requirements has been verified, the Ministry of Mining will present the applicant with a CEOL model.
If there is an agreement between the parties, the CEOL will be signed once the indigenous consultation has concluded and the supreme decree establishing the requirements and conditions of the CEOL has been issued. “In cases where this agreement is reached through the simplified procedure, there will be no public tender,” it was explained.
