Plans to expand production at SQM, the world's second-largest lithium producer, have been thwarted

Published: Dec 31, 2019 14:16

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SMM12, March 31-the Chilean group aims to increase production to meet battery demand for electric vehicles, but the court questioned SQM's $380 million lithium mine expansion project. It said its ruling was based on the "special vulnerability" of the Atacama desert ecosystem. It is pointed out that there is a high degree of scientific uncertainty about the impact of SQM lithium mining on water resources in this area.

Lithium mines and arid deserts are rich in brine. In the process of mining lithium ore, the brine is pumped to the surface and then evaporated.

SQM currently has an annual capacity of 70000 tons of lithium carbonate and 13500 tons of lithium hydroxide at the Atacama refinery. However, it hopes to increase production to 120000 tons of lithium carbonate and nearly 30000 tons of lithium hydroxide by the second half of 2021, and eventually to 160000 tons of lithium carbonate by the end of 2023.

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