For whatever reason, in Chile Li is a hot potato that atractss...

For whatever reason, in Chile Li is a hot potato that atractss strong political opposition from the left, probably because of the links between SQM and the much hated Pinochet regime.

On the other hand, few if any politicians defend the expansion of the Li industry or the development of new mines: as a right-wing minister of mines observed, the Li market is tiny when compared with copper and Li represents a minuscule 0.4% of the Chilean exports, so why to bother?

This disregard for Li was quite obvious recently when the government was seriously considering to close down one of the two mines operating in the Atacama because it uses brines needed by a nearby Codelco’s mine. The government relented only when the Li producer agreed to the government demands. (see https://www.bloomberg.com/news/feat...s-in-high-altitude-fight-for-lithium-supplies)

In Maricunga, the government gave a virtual monopoly over the salar to the state-owned Codelco with little if any obligation other than to develop it – or not – at Codelco’s leisure.

Li in Chile, like uranium in Australia, do not have much political support.