In northern Chile, a protest on Wednesday blocked access to the Atacama salt flat, which is the world’s largest lithium deposit. The demonstration was led by local indigenous groups after an agreement was signed recently between SQM, a domestic producer, and state-run copper firm Codelco. This affected SQM operations, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. There was no immediate comment from SQM and Albemarle, a U.S. firm extracting lithium from the salt flat.
The protest highlighted a significant challenge to Chile’s plan to impose more state control over lithium, which is essential for batteries used in electric vehicles. Indigenous community leader Yermin Basques said that they blocked public roads leading to mining operations, preventing workers, supplies, and lithium from entering or leaving. The indigenous communities felt sidelined in the negotiation between SQM and Codelco, despite their traditional connection to the area.
Basques mentioned that around 500 protesters were blocking six different spots on public roads in the south of the salt flat. They were demanding to be included in talks between SQM and the government, expressing their dissatisfaction with the exclusion from the agreement between SQM and Codelco. The agreement outlines a partnership for future lithium development and production in the Atacama, beginning in 2025 and running through 2060.
He stated that the government did not include the Atacama Indigenous Council in the agreement, despite announcing a dialogue table to discuss lithium mining in the Atacama. The protesters planned to block access to the salt flat until President Gabriel Boric visited them and fulfilled the original agreement. Chile’s mining ministry stated that it was monitoring the protests, but declined to comment further.
For more of 2021, SQM and Codelco were engaged in discussions regarding the future of lithium mining in the salt flat, which is home to 90% of Chile’s lithium reserves. The country has the world’s largest proven lithium reserves.
Basques, who leads the Toconao group, the largest in the Atacama Indigenous Council, emphasized the need for President Boric to demonstrate the sensitivity and respect he had previously spoken about. He invited Boric to meet with them and uphold the commitments he had made. This highlights the tension and discord between the indigenous communities, the mining companies, and the government in the struggle for control over lithium reserves in the Atacama salt flat.
The message from the indigenous groups, who feel overlooked and marginalized, is clear: they will continue to protest and demand a seat at the table in discussions about the future of lithium mining in their territory.
(Reporting by Alexander Villegas and Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; Additional reporting by Natalia Ramos; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
