Chile's SQM, the world's second-largest lithium producer, can reduce its use of fresh water and salt water by 50% within a decade.

SMM10, March 10 / PRNewswire-FirstCall-Asianet /-- Chile's SQM, the world's second-largest lithium producer, will take the initiative to reduce the use of fresh and salt water from the Atacama Desert to reduce the overall impact of its operations in one of the world's driest regions.

The company produces lithium by pumping salt water from under the desert and evaporating it into a pool to concentrate it, and promises to reduce the use of "continental" water by 20% from November this year. The goal is to reduce water consumption by 50% by 2030, the report said. SQM estimates that through this method, Chile's total lithium production will increase from the current more than 100000 tons to 300000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent.

In order to achieve these goals, the company must improve its production process and increase its use of seawater. The first phase of the project will require an investment of about US $40 million and the second phase will require an investment of US $65 million.