Promise to visit Boric ends protests in Chile’s lithium salt plains By Reuters
© Reuters. File photo: A roadblock has been erected to block access to the Atacama Salt Flats, one of the world’s largest lithium deposits, near Pene, Chile, January 10, 2024. REUTERS/John Yevenes/File Photo
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SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Protesters promised a visit from President Gabriel Boric and agreed to end protests blocking access to Chile’s Atacama salt fields, the world’s largest lithium deposit.
Indigenous groups have blocked public roads leading to mining operations south of the salt flats, which are home to domestic producer SQM and an American company, for several days. albemarle (NYSE:) extracts the metal, preventing workers, supplies and lithium from getting in or out.
The protests were sparked by an agreement signed last month between SQM and state-owned company Codelco. Indigenous leaders say the government has marginalized their communities despite recent promises of a dialogue table to discuss lithium mining in the Atacama.
The Atacama Indigenous Council said in a statement shared on social media platform No visitation time was given.
The protests highlighted a serious challenge to plans by Chile, the world’s second-largest lithium producer, to tighten state control over the metal needed for batteries used to power the world’s growing fleet of electric vehicles.
“The President of Chile must be aware of the Atacama salt pans before he can shape his policies,” the commission said in a statement.
Albemarle said operations continued as normal during the protests while SQM did not respond to a request for comment.
