Capacity Increase and Production Optimization Carmen Lithium Plant

Description: The project seeks to increase the lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide production capacity at the Carmen Lithium Plant through the implementation of operational improvements, the incorporation of new technology and the construction of new facilities. The project introduces modifications to an environmentally approved project and its works are classified into two broad categories: Optimization Modifications: they are entirely within the environmentally approved area and consider operational improvements and the incorporation of new technologies in current production processes, with the aim of achieving an increase in lithium carbonate production capacity to 210,000 tons/year and an increase in of lithium hydroxide production capacity of 40,000 tons/year; New Works: they will be located in new areas and consider the fitting out of a new Lithium Plant and associated facilities. This new plant will have a production capacity of 60,000 tons/year of final product, which may be both lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide from a concentrated lithium solution; In addition, it will have the option of producing Lithium Hydroxide from Lithium Carbonate from the new plant and/or existing facilities. The project also considers the incorporation of a new civic neighborhood, a new access, new disposal salt deposits and liquid disposal ponds, and operational safety works in Quebrada Sin Nombre. Most of the new facilities will be located in an area to the north of the current Carmen Lithium Plant. The main input for the operations of the site corresponds to concentrated lithium solution, coming from the Salar de Atacama and/or from other suppliers. The project will be located in the Antofagasta Region, in the province and commune of the same name, on the eastern side of Route 5 North, in front of km 1,374 and approximately 20 km east of the city of Antofagasta.