Mining · Salar de Atacama, 2 August 2026

Key Facts

—Project — Novandino Litio, the Codelco–SQM joint venture, has entered its roughly US$3 billion Salar Futuro plan into Chile’s environmental review system.

—Timeline — The plan would extend lithium output at the Salar de Atacama from a current horizon near 2030 out to 2060.

—Technology — It centres on direct lithium extraction (DLE), which reinjects lithium-depleted brine back into the aquifer.