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Chile's lower home of Congress asks Boric to void Codelco-SQM deal

Chile's lower home of Congress authorized a resolution asking President Gabriel Boric to annul an agreement in between state copper company Codelco and Chilean miner SQM that would provide Codelco a prominent role in the lithium industry.

The movement, passed late on Tuesday, was led by the Party for Democracy (PPD), part of the judgment union, and authorized with 41 votes in favor, 15 against and 10 abstentions.

The collaboration in between Codelco and SQM is a major element of Boric's plan to boost the state function in Chile's production of lithium, a metal used in electrical lorry batteries.

The government-mandated offer would extend SQM's contract to extract lithium in the valued Atacama salt flat through 2060, while offering Codelco a more than 50% stake in the task.

The tie-up sparked criticism from some legislators and industry professionals, who said the SQM contract in the Salar de Atacama, set to expire in 2030, should have been opened to a. bidding procedure.

The resolution signed by legislators requires canceling the. deal so that the process can be done through a nationwide and. global public tender and not in a direct offer.

The Mining Ministry and Codelco did not instantly respond. to requests for comment. Boric has been encouraging of the. collaboration, which the companies intend to finalize early next. year.

Codelco Chairman Maximo Pacheco has actually consistently defended the. joint venture, stating the direct handle SQM guarantees a. constant circulation of funds to the Chilean state, with the miner. turning over 70% of its operating margin through 2030, and 85%. through 2060.

There are clear advantages that cause the conclusion that. the direct negotiation met its goals, he told Senate legislators. in a hearing last month.

Chile is the world's second-biggest producer of lithium,. with output from SQM and Albemarle.

(source: Reuters)