Chile and South American nations coordinate on lithium and copper strategy

Chile has announced plans to tender five new lithium projects in 2026, aiming to more than double its national production from 200,000 to over 400,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) within a decade. This expansion seeks to move beyond the current production concentrated in the Salar de Atacama, which is currently operated by SQM and Albemarle.

In a broader regional move, the mining ministers of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru signed the Joint Declaration on Strategic Minerals for Regional Integration in Santiago. The agreement aims to foster cooperation regarding critical minerals essential for the energy transition and artificial intelligence, such as lithium and copper. While not yet a formal alliance, the initiative seeks to position the Southern Cone as a reliable and competitive supplier by coordinating policies and technical information among the four nations.