Chilean firms partner to form giant company to exploit lithium

Chile's state-owned Codelco, the world's leading copper producer, and private miner SQM, which features Chinese capital, announced Saturday the creation of a giant company to exploit lithium, a lightweight metal used in batteries for electric vehicles. The Chinese firm Tianqi holds a 22 percent stake in SQM. The new company "will carry out lithium exploration, extraction, production, and commercialization activities in the Atacama salt flat until 2060," Codelco said in a statement.

Chilean firms partner to form giant company to exploit lithium
Chile's state-owned Codelco, the world's leading copper producer, and private miner SQM, which features Chinese capital, announced Saturday the creation of a giant company to exploit lithium, a lightweight metal used in batteries for electric vehicles. The Chinese firm Tianqi holds a 22 percent stake in SQM. The new company "will carry out lithium exploration, extraction, production, and commercialization activities in the Atacama salt flat until 2060," Codelco said in a statement.