Chile to start lithium talks with SQM to boost state control

While Codelco dominates copper output in Chile, the world’s top copper producer, the state has yet to produce lithium. — Reuters

SANTIAGO: Chile will start talks with SQM over its operations in the Atacama “this semester” to convince the world’s No. 2 lithium mining company to sign onto a state-led public-private model, the economy minister says.

SQM said it would need to invest an additional US$2bil (RM8.9bil) under the new strategy.