here is the article published in a newspaper of chile today(here is the article published in a newspaper of chile)
former Chilean executives of large mining companies are associated with Canadian firm to explore lithium
Published on January 12, 2018
The company, which will be advised by the national Kura Minerals, will also seek alliances with other players -among them, SQM and Albemarle- to test technology to process brines.
(https://www.mch.cl/2018/01/12/ex-ejecutivos-chilenos-grandes-mineras-se-asocian-firma-canadiense-explorar-litio/) original article
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The Canadian mining company MGX chose Chile to arrive at the so-called "lithium triangle" -which also make up Argentina and Bolivia-, and for this they associated with the national Kura Minerals, an advisory firm formed by former top executives of large mining companies.
The company will look for opportunities to explore lithium and develop projects, although they also bet on partnerships with other actors -such as SQM and Albemarle-. At the same time, they will test in the country a new technology to process brines.
Currently, MGX Minerals has more than 800,000 hectares in prospective lithium, magnesium and other elements, all located in North America.
"The intention of MGX is to expand its portfolio of projects to the lithium triangle, and Chile will be the initial step. We collaborate with them in identifying different business opportunities, such as associating with existing projects in production or beginning to explore new projects, "explains former BHP and one of the founders of Kura Minerals, Francisco Acua.
"Chile is an example where although there are problems, institutions work, much more than in neighboring countries, which generates certainty in investments, in addition to having a history of mining country. Investors, in general, know the problems, but they trust the country, "adds the former Anglo American and Kura Minerals partner, Thomas Eggers, regarding the decision of the Canadian to arrive in the country.
The company will also seek options for alliances with industry players that are already positioned in the country, such as SQM and Albemarle -the current lithium producers in the Atacama salt flat-, companies that are developing new projects and organizations such as Corfo or universities.
"We believe that there is a business opportunity with the different players, because MGX is betting on the exploration and development of deposits, as well as testing its new technology," says Acua.
The North American, through a subsidiary, developed a patented technology that, they say, would offer a change in the processing of brines and other solutions rich in lithium and other elements of interest. This process, they say, would have an advantage over the traditional solar evaporation used in the Atacama salt flat. This, since it would be more efficient and with less environmental footprint.
Therefore, they will build the first demonstration-scale plant in Chile of this technology