Protest ends at Chile’s lithium salt flats with promise of Boric visit By Reuters

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<span>© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A roadblock is set up to block access to the Atacama salt flat, one of the world’s largest lithium deposits, near Peine, Chile January 10, 2024. REUTERS/John Yevenes/File Photo</span><br />
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<p>SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Protesters agreed to end demonstrations that had blocked access to the Atacama salt flat in Chile, the world’s largest lithium deposit, with the promise of a visit by President Gabriel Boric.</p>
<p>Indigenous groups had for days blocked public roads that lead to mining operations in the south of the salt flat, where domestic producer SQM and U.S. firm <span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Corporation"><span itemprop="name"> Albemarle </span></span> (NYSE:) extract the metal, preventing workers, supplies and lithium from entering or leaving. </p>
<p>The demonstrations were sparked by an agreement signed last month between SQM and state-run firm Codelco, which indigenous leaders said sidelined local communities despite a recent government promise of a dialogue table to discuss lithium mining in the Atacama. </p>
<p>The Atacama Indigenous Council said in a statement shared on the social media platform X on Friday that protesters would end the occupation over the coming hours after the mining ministry promised Boric would come to the area. No timing was given for the visit. </p>
<p>The protest underscored a serious challenge to a plan by Chile, the No. 2 lithium producer, to impose more state control over the metal needed for batteries used to power the world’s growing electric vehicle fleet.</p>
<p>“The president of Chile must know the Atacama salt flat before specifying… the policy,” the council’s statement said. </p>
<p>Albemarle said earlier its operations continued as normal during the protest while SQM did not respond to a request for comment. </p>
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