Recent studies highlight a significant increase in Chile’s lithium resources, which are now estimated to be 28% greater than previously thought.
This finding stems from analyses of salt flats in the northern Antofagasta region, conducted by the state mining body ENAMI.
Notably, the La Isla salt flat alone has seen its lithium estimate rise by 150%, contributing substantially to the overall resource increase.
In total, the updated assessments reveal that Chile’s lithium resources now include 3.05 million tons more than the previous estimate of 11 million tons by the U.S. Geological Survey.
While Chile ranks as the third-largest holder of lithium resources globally, it maintains the top position for lithium reserves, with 9.3 million tons, underscoring its critical role in the global supply chain.
As ENAMI prepares to partner with various companies for the Salares Altoandinos project, the implications of these new figures could reshape the landscape of lithium production in the region.
The competition among companies like BYD, Eramet, and Rio Tinto to invest in these salt flats indicates the growing importance of Chile’s lithium assets in the market.