Article content
SANTIAGO — Chile has launched an auction process to award special operating contracts to explore and produce 400,000 tons of electric battery metal lithium, the mining ministry said late on Wednesday, a move to bolster production and meet global demand.
The move comes as the Andean country, which sits on South America’s so-called “lithium triangle” and is one of the world’s top producers of the metal, looks to accelerate development of new projects, which have stalled in recent years.