Enami launches search for partners for Chile lithium project

Chile received foreign direct investment of US$21.7bn last year, the most since 2015, which demonstrates the trust that exists in the country, according to President Gabriel Boric.

Boric, speaking at the 7th international forum of investment promotion agency InvestChile, predicted an increase in FDI due to the opening up to the private sector under the national lithium strategy.

At the event, state minerals company Enami launched its search for partners to form a PPP for the Salares Altoandinos lithium project.

“One for the development and operation of the project, and another for financing,” said CEO Iván Mylnarz in a press conference held alongside the InvestChile event.

Enami will invest US$10.5mn in an exploration campaign in the Aguilar, Grande and La Isla salt flats, which comprise Salares Altoandinos, and is processing a request for a special lithium operation contract with the mining ministry.

BNamericas asked about the development plans, to which Mylnarz said that "the production strategy could vary, we could target only one or we could move forward together. That is part of the engineering that we will discuss at the end of the year."

Registration for the Enami process will extend until June 7 and the deadline to express interest is July 23. Additionally, the company is gathering information on direct lithium extraction technologies.

Speaking at the event, mining minister Aurora Williams highlighted that her office is receiving the interest of investors to participate in lithium projects in 26 salt flats in northern Chile.

The process will end on June 17 and is highly significant globally, according to the minister.

BNamericas asked about the importance of strengthening transparency in the lithium strategy, to which Williams replied that there are communication mechanisms and the lobby law helps regulate the links and transparency in the decisions adopted.

However, “public companies [copper miner] Codelco and Enami have their own corporate governance and codes that protect aspects of this nature. At this moment there are companies and ministries that are carrying out negotiations, therefore we must protect the interests of the parties. The time will come to make information transparent and available."

The InvestChile forum brought together more than 400 representatives of 100 international companies and more than 60 investment projects that exceed US$9bn, according to the organizers.