Chile’s development agency Corfo has tasked state copper miner Codelco with renegotiating SQM and Albemarle’s lithium contracts in the Salar de Atacama.

Although SQM’s contract extends through 2030 and Albemarle’s through 2043, all parties agreed on renegotiations after the government presented its national lithium strategy in April, which involves public-private partnerships with the State holding a majority. (Earlier post.)

SQM and Albemarle are Chile’s only lithium producers and signed special contracts with Corfo to start extraction.ogether, SQM and Albemarle produce around 250,000t/y of lithium, making Chile the second largest producer worldwide.