We use solar energy to move towards greener mining.
Sustainable Lithium Production
Cleaner lithium for a greener future
We produce lithium sustainably in the Atacama Salt Flat, using methods that take advantage of the natural concentration of the brine without adding external substances and minimize the environmental impactOur process, which can take more than a year, concentrates the lithium up to 30 times its original level and feeds it into a 95,8% with solar energymaking it one of the cleanest methods in the world.
Once concentrated, the lithium is transported to our chemical plant in the Salar del Carmen, near Antofagasta, where it is transformed into lithium carbonate and hydroxide battery grade. Every stage of our operation seeks to generate value by protecting the Salar, the communities and the planet, driving a greener mining and a cleaner energy future.
We take care of the biodiversity and ecosystem of the Salar
We make a firm commitment to the protection of biodiversity and the ecosystem of the Atacama Salt Flat. We develop our operation respecting the natural environment, taking care of the flora, fauna and the well-being of communities that are part of this territory.
To do it concretely, We measure and manage our impacts constantly incorporating tools such as Life Cycle Analysis, which allows us to better understand our impact on the environment and continue moving towards a greener mining.
Responsible life cycle of lithium
We take care of every stage of our lithium cyclemeasuring and reducing its environmental impact. To achieve this, we apply Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a globally recognized tool that allows us to understand, with data, the impact of our products from its origin to its final destination.
This analysis, developed in conjunction with the international consulting firm AFRY under the ISO 14040 and 14044 standardsThis allows us to evaluate our performance and continuously improve our processes. Below, we present the main results, considering:
Environmental impact of our lithium in figures
Energy consumption of our lithium production
According to the LCA carried out by AFRY, our lithium production from brine registers a lower power consumption than hard rock (spodumene)-based processes, especially those refined in China. In 2018, approximately 50% of the world's lithium was produced from brines and the remainder from spodumene. In contrast, Our model stands out for its smaller energy footprint..
Water consumption of our lithium production
La Water footprint of our production is considerably more low than in other methods. Approximately 22,5 liters of water are required per kilogram of lithium carbonate, from origin to customer ("cradle to customer"), excluding water used in products supplied by third parties. This indicator was also calculated under the ISO 14040 and 14044 methodologies.
Carbon footprint of our lithium production
During 2018, consumption of lithium carbonate and hydroxide In northern Chile, the carbon footprint was practically equal. However, only 1/3 of the total carbon footprint corresponded to brine-based production, like the kind we use in our processes. This means that the lithium that we produce is among those of lower carbon footprint in the world.
* Afry study (2018 global data). The comparison was made with Australian spodumene, refined in China.