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Chile's Codelco targeting 2030 production for Maricunga lithium website -document.

Rothschild & & Co has formally begun to evaluate candidates to partner with Chile's. staterun miner Codelco on a significant new lithium project slated to. start production in 2030, according to documents seen . on Thursday.

A four-page financial investment highlight file from Codelco and. Rothschild, dated June 2024, and accompanying memo, expose brand-new. information of Codelco's plans for the website, now dubbed Task. Paloma.

Codelco intends to start building in early 2027 and launch. production in early 2030. A very first phase would include production. of 20,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) a. year via evaporation ponds at a preliminary capital cost of $1.2. billion.

A 2nd stage will target 30,000 metric lots of LCE a year. via direct lithium extraction (DLE), with preliminary capital expense. of $1.1 billion.

The possible use of DLE, which has yet to operate at. business scale, is being assessed for 2033, the file. revealed.

Codelco previously said it had actually worked with Rothschild to lead the. look for a partner which it intended to conclude the process. by the first quarter next year, however did not divulge whether the. effort had formally begun, or how the bank would set about. looking for interest in the job.

Rothschild & & Co is currently certifying participants in the. procedure and is welcoming particular celebrations to examine the. details included herein, states the investment document.

It likewise calls the job a unique chance to partner. with Codelco in establishing Chile's next world-class lithium. project.

Chile is the world's second-biggest lithium manufacturer, with. output from SQM and Albemarle of the battery. metal required for electric automobiles.

The federal government has actually charged Codelco with leading efforts. to boost its function in lithium production, and reached a turning point. last week as the copper giant announced final plans for a tie-up. with SQM in the Salar de Atacama from 2025 to 2060.

The Maricunga job represents a major new obstacle as. Codelco handles lithium production practically from scratch.

Regardless Of Chilean President Gabriel Boric's statement last. year that he would mandate the use of DLE, Codelco's prepare for a. years of standard evaporation ponds in Maricunga suggests. the technology is still far from production expectations laid. out by Boric and market leaders.

(source: Reuters)