Where are Chile's lithium batteries coming from?

At the centre of the strategy is the jewel in Chile’s lithium crown, the Salar de Atacama salt flats in the north, where the battery material is extracted from brine through evaporation ponds. But the groups operating there have already begun looking further afield.

What is Chile's new lithium strategy?

On April 20, the Chilean government announced its new lithium strategy, which plans to give control of the country’s lithium industry to the state.

Does Chile need a lithium ion battery?

With alternative supply set to flourish in Australia, Canada, the US and Argentina, and uncertainty over the longevity of lithium’s boom as work proceeds on alternatives like sodium-ion batteries, the west’s need for Chile’s supplies is not assured.

Is Chile bolstering its lithium industry?

Chile is not the only lithium-producing country to take steps to bolster its domestic industry. On Tuesday, Australia announced its own critical minerals strategy, which aims to channel investments in the sector into local jobs.

Is Chile a good place to buy lithium?

Investors gained some clarity last week when the Chilean government released a 33-page document that expands upon its initial pledges with specific timelines and targets. Chile is currently the world’s second-largest producer of lithium, a critical mineral that is used in electric car batteries and key to the global green energy transition.

Why does Chile need lithium?

For a nation rich in the lithium reserves desperately needed to support the pace of the energy transition, it is critical that Chile adopt strategies that help meet global demand, maximize the benefits for its people, and protect the environment. The world needs lithium—a lot of it—for batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) and electricity storage.