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Chile lithium projects amass interest from over 50 companies

More than 50 business have revealed interest in developing lithium tasks in Chile, Financing Minister Mario Marcel said on Tuesday, after the government required proposals for a series of salt flats containing the battery metal.

Chile, the world's biggest copper manufacturer, called for proposals in April to establish lithium projects in more than 2 lots salt flats that have yet to be fully checked out, while booking the Atacama and Maricunga brine deposits for state control.

Fifty 4 companies from 10 nations submitted statements of interest to develop 88 jobs through the public process, which ended on Monday, Marcel said at an occasion in Santiago.

There are investors of various sizes ... there are local financiers and numerous foreign investors, Marcel stated. There is plainly a really broad interest in buying this market.

The mining ministry will later offer details on the salt flats that have received overlapping proposals.

In April, Chile's mining minister stated there would be a. tender procedure if more than one company revealed interest in a. single website.

Investors have, nevertheless, raised issues about how the. federal government will award lithium contracts in salt flats where. mining concessions have formerly been given, which runs the risk of. producing a type of double ownership.

Chile is looking for to build its role in the lithium industry,. which is the world's second biggest after Australia, through. state-led tasks in addition to personal investment.

The U.S. ambassador to Chile, Bernadette Meehan, stated at an. occasion in Santiago on Tuesday that U.S. companies have shown. intense interest both in extracting lithium and in producing. components that utilize the product, such as batteries.

There are U.S. business and Western business interested. in all lithium chances announced by the federal government of. Chile, she stated.

Currently, just U.S. firm Albemarle and regional miner. SQM produce lithium in the country. Last month, SQM. signed an agreement with state-run giant Codelco to release a. majority state-run joint endeavor in the Atacama salt flat. Codelco is also looking for a partner for a significant brand-new lithium. project in the Maricunga salt flat.

(source: Reuters)