Miners Rio Tinto and Eramet are among 30 companies that have submitted proposals to develop lithium extraction technology for a Chilean salt flat in the early stages of exploration, reported Reuters.
Chile is seeking to develop the salt flat known as Salares Altoandinos for lithium mining.
State-run mining body ENAMI has asked bidding companies to detail step-by-step plans to test the brine deposits of the salt flats, outline potential processes to reach battery-grade lithium, and to state whether they had a plan to assess the environmental impact of brine reinjection.
“The objective … is to become acquainted with state-of-art development of technological processes for lithium extraction that are being developed worldwide,” ENAMI said in a statement.
Source: Reuters