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Chile indigenous communities suspend dialogue with SQM, Codelco over lithium

The 4 biggest indigenous communities in Chile's Atacama salt flat suspended discussion with state-run copper giant Codelco and lithium miner SQM over expanding lithium mining in the flat, the groups stated in a declaration on Monday.

Codelco and SQM consented to start talks with a council of agents from 18 indigenous communities in December as part of Codelco's efforts to reach an arrangement with SQM to form a new state-controlled public-private partnership.

In spite of our neighborhoods' efforts, the realities have shown that amongst the stars included there is not a real determination to sustain a discussion, agents from the Toconao, Camar, Socaire and Peine neighborhoods stated in a declaration dated April 14 however launched on Monday.

The statement added that the other native neighborhoods participating in the dialogue with the business do not recognize the distinct truths of the process.

The native council, SQM and Codelco did not right away reply to requests for remark.

The native groups' statement comes practically a year after Chilean President Gabriel Boric charged Codelco, the world's biggest copper manufacturer, to lead efforts to increase state control over strategic lithium jobs as need grows for the white metal, an essential element in electric car batteries.

(source: Reuters)