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Chilean regulator go for quick choice on Tianqi-SQM dispute

Chile's monetary regulator said on Wednesday it is intending to respond as quickly as possible to a grievance from China's Tianqi Lithium over a. prepared lithium partnership between miner SQM and. Chilean state miner Codelco.

Tianqi, which holds about a fifth of shares in SQM, has. argued to the regulator that an investors' vote is required to. approve the agreement. The offer would give Codelco a bulk. stake of SQM's lithium operations in Chile's Atacama salt flat.

SQM and Codelco announced the last terms recently but stated. certain conditions still required to be fulfilled, consisting of a rejection. of Tianqi's proposal by Chile's Financial Market Commission. ( CMF).

SQM has actually maintained that only a board vote is required,. mentioning an earlier CMF determination.

Asked about the matter in a Senate hearing, the regulator's. President Solange Bernstein said the commission was aiming to. work rapidly. It received Tianqi's appeal in May and requested a. action from SQM by Monday.

We are going to take a while to be able to solve it, however. we're going to do it as rapidly as possible, she stated.

We need to analyze the details of the arrangement, along with. SQM's action.

The commission's legal director, Jose Antonio Gaspar, stated. Tianqi could appeal the CMF decision to a court.

Tianqi stated in a filing on Sunday with the Shenzhen Stock. Exchange it might consider further action to secure its. interests.

(source: Reuters)