The advance of lithium mining threatens 26 new salt flats in Chile

Within the framework of the National Lithium Strategy, the Chilean Government has concluded the process of receiving expressions of interest for the development of lithium exploration and exploitation projects in 26 new salt flats and Andean wetlands in Chilean territory. Through this process, in which proposals were received from more than 50 companies and consortiums from 10 different countries, the necessary information will be obtained to identify the salt flats where the State will begin the process of granting Special Contracts.

Atacameño communities stop the Indigenous Consultation for the SQM-Codelco agreement in the Atacama Salt Flat 

Four of the five communities closest to the lithium extraction operations in the Salar de Atacama arrived at the headquarters of the community of Quitor, where the initial meeting of the 2031 to 2060 contract between the companies was called, to express their disagreement with the way in which the process has been carried out. They point out the lack of transparency and scarce participation of the indigenous peoples.

The foreign lobby on the lookout for Chilean lithium

Analysts point out that lobbying has increased due to Chile’s positioning as a player that wants to grow in the lithium market. However, they warn that our country must be careful of the potential effects of the pressure for the demand for «white gold» exerted by industrialized countries.

Argentina: Precautionary measure filed by Atacameños del Altiplano community stops new mining permits in Salar del Hombre Muerto and orders measurement of «cumulative impacts»

The Argentine Court of Justice ruled on the damages of lithium extraction in the Los Patos River area and in Salar del Hombre Muerto, in the framework of an injunction requested by the Atacameños del Altiplano Community. The ruling orders the Ministries of Mining and of Water and Environment to refrain from granting permits and authorizations for exploitation until a «comprehensive and cumulative» environmental impact study is carried out. 

The greenwashing of lithium mining: trying to hide the damage

We replicate the journalistic article published by the newspaper El Ciudadano together with Fundación Tantí «The greenwashing of lithium mining: trying to hide the damage». The extraction of this mineral is leaving traces that go beyond what is shown in corporate campaigns and the enormous publicity in the media. The consequences on the ecosystems and […]

Atacameño Communities Maintain Protest Camps in the Atacama Salt Flat and Raise Awareness about out the Environmental Impacts of Lithium Mining

A few days ago the Plurinational Andean Salt Flat Observatory (OPSAL) visited the camp that the Socaire community continues to maintain in the Atacama Salt Flat in opposition to the Memorandum of Understanding between CODELCO and SQM. The area is located on the outskirts of the SQM facilities, near the community. We spoke with some community members about their opinion regarding this pre-agreement, the visible damage that mining has caused in their territory, and the vision they have about the energy transition and electromobility.

Territorial organizations, community leaders and experts participate in the II Plurinational Meeting for Andean Salt Flats and Wetlands

More than 20 social organizations, experts and representatives of indigenous communities of the Andean highlands of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina participated in the II Plurinational Meeting for the Andean Salt Flats and Wetlands organized by the Plurinational Observatory of Andean Salt Flats (OPSAL in Spanish), the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN) and Fundación Tantí,