Why Chile’s Lithium Mining Is At A Crossroad
591,435
Published 2023-05-05
Chapters:
00:00 — Introduction
03:04 - History of lithium in Chile
07:15 - Politics of mining
12:27 - Opposition and concerns
17:34 - What’s next
Produced, Shot and Narration by: Katie Brigham
Supervising Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
Edited by: Amy Marino
Additional Camera: Shawn Baldwin
Animation: Christina Locopo
Translation: David Calderón, Beatriz Bajuelos Castillo
Senior Production Manager: Kathy Mavrikakis
Additional Footage: Getty Images, Albemarle, Archive.org, Government of Chile
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Why Chile’s Lithium Mining Is At A Crossroad
All Comments (21)
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It makes no sense that one commentator suggested that Chile should wait until it had more electric vehicles before making batteries. It should prioritize that part of the supply chain now to get an advantage before others take the lead. Go Chile!
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I mean that’s always been the story latin america is “not ready” to move towards downstream activities and never will according to them, but downstream and added value manufacturing transitioning from raw materials to production has been what has developed countries like japan, korea, and now china.
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I'm from Australia and refining Lithium is such a polluting exercise, I'm not sure any country does it properly just yet. Caution on going grand scale as what you end up paying may be much more than what the country receives.
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As a Chilean citizen it is possible to observe a new great opportunity and the beginning of another mining cycle, which has defined our economy forever, from saltpeter, through copper and now lithium. I only hope that we can find the balance between ecology and a fair international policy (economy), which is where we citizens are affected.
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The reporter said thay they didn't see any electric vehicles, but they didn't look for busses. Because Chile has the largest electric buses fleet in the region, more than three times the number of USA
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Good for Chile. Make those companies pay but reinvest in real infrastructure, schools, hospitals, whatever the people need.
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i think its great when a main source of income from a certain industry in any country pays its taxes with little to no fraud or corruption its the best way to modernize a nation
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As Sodium-ion battery technology advances, it might take some of the pressure off Li resources and prevent some of the ecological damage mining it will cause. Iron-air batteries might do the same for grid scale, stationary battery applications to even out wind and solar green energy sources.
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Sure, Argentina might take over as the world's 2nd producer, but at the cost of practically giving it away. Why, do you ask? Because money will go to the pockets of politicians, and not the Argentinian people. It has always worked that way, and it sill works the same way. Chile is making sure that the profits stay in the country, and minimizing the impact on the surrounding ecosystem.
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Chile needs to do whatever it needs to develop its own economy, for the good of the Chilean people. Its funny to see foreigners suggesting that Chile should not develop its own industries, its like a drug trafficker saying that you should not quit drugs because it will be bad for you, their lies are so funny. Go Chile! Pursue your own destiny!
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Hopefully Chile will have an efficient mixed state owned private industry that can satisfy growing demand, and also increasing chile's tax coffers. Really beautiful country, one of the best in the nation. Best regards from Pumalal, Chile.
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I just hope that lithium allows Chile to get out of underdevelopment and that the opportunities that this country deserves are created. We are tired of only a few families living like Europeans or North Americans, decades ago we should have done something with copper and it was not done. I hope that this time lithium will add value. our rulers and legislators have made this country the cradle of political favors and have forgotten the people who for generations have expected radical changes in Chile
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Chile has so many crucial minerals! Just hope that these resources can lead Chilean to a better life, they should own the major part of profit from it
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Chile has nickel and the demand for nickel will only increase. The demand for lithium may not be what many "experts" believed it would be only a few years ago. The brine also has tremendous amounts of sodium (and bromine/bromide) and it too can be used in batteries. Sodium isn't worth very much compared to lithium because it is very common but as the demand for lithium goes down in the future (recycled batteries and new battery tech) and the demand for sodium goes up so will the price.
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Chile is the best place to retrieve lithium. -The Ofori-Atta Family
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Wouldn't there be a good argument made that taking the Salt water from under the earth and having Fresh water Evaporate into the air would actually increase the chances they might get some rain outside the salt flats when the water cools off over greener pastures?
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What is surprising is that those politicians that only see dollar signs say that the supply of Lithium in Chile is "Limitless". There will come a day when the Land will become totally barren and no more Lithium will be available for mining but the politicians don't care and only want to push their agenda.
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Seems like they are looking out for the people over corporations. In that i'm all for it.
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I for one welcome the re-emergence of the Southern Cone. Hopefully they don't get CIA-Pinochet'd again.
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As Chilean, I believe that if we don't take the opportunity, others will and the question that is, if not this, then what have Chile to offer to keep its living standards? Hardly anything other than minerals, we got to use them to empower other industries, but with so much talk and less action, I loose hopes here😅
