Global Overview of the Lithium Market and Opportunities for Chile
Lithium is a metal with a highly promising outlook for future global demand. Its industrial processing relies on two primary methods: production from brines through solar evaporation ponds and production from rock sources via flotation, roasting, and subsequent leaching. Chile is currently the world...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| author | Mauricio Mura Ignacio Castillo David Torres Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid Edelmira Gálvez Sandra Gallegos Jonathan Castillo Marinka Varas Ingrid Jamett Norman Toro |
| author_facet | Mauricio Mura Ignacio Castillo David Torres Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid Edelmira Gálvez Sandra Gallegos Jonathan Castillo Marinka Varas Ingrid Jamett Norman Toro |
| author_sort | Mauricio Mura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lithium is a metal with a highly promising outlook for future global demand. Its industrial processing relies on two primary methods: production from brines through solar evaporation ponds and production from rock sources via flotation, roasting, and subsequent leaching. Chile is currently the world’s second-largest producer of lithium, surpassed only by Australia. However, Chile’s lithium production process is significantly advantaged by the exceptionally high lithium concentration in the Salar de Atacama—the highest in the world—and the region’s high solar radiation, which enables the most cost-effective solar evaporation process globally. Despite these comparative advantages, Chile’s lithium production has stagnated in recent years. This stagnation can be attributed to the need for more flexible legislation surrounding the lithium industry or an increase in the number of CEOLs (Lithium Exploitation Contracts) to regain its position as the leading global producer of lithium. Furthermore, increased investment in national universities and research centers is essential to foster the development and implementation of new, clean technologies for future projects. By addressing these challenges, Chile has the potential to solidify its role as a key player in the global lithium market while promoting sustainable industrial practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-71a5cd3cc6264b9aba32a69c2f533cf2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2079-9276 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-71a5cd3cc6264b9aba32a69c2f533cf22025-08-20T02:04:03ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762025-02-011423310.3390/resources14020033Global Overview of the Lithium Market and Opportunities for ChileMauricio Mura0Ignacio Castillo1David Torres2Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid3Edelmira Gálvez4Sandra Gallegos5Jonathan Castillo6Marinka Varas7Ingrid Jamett8Norman Toro9Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileFaculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileFaculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileCentro de Desarrollo Energético Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Minas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1270709, ChileFaculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería en Metalurgia, Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó 1531772, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería Industrial, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería Industrial, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileFaculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileLithium is a metal with a highly promising outlook for future global demand. Its industrial processing relies on two primary methods: production from brines through solar evaporation ponds and production from rock sources via flotation, roasting, and subsequent leaching. Chile is currently the world’s second-largest producer of lithium, surpassed only by Australia. However, Chile’s lithium production process is significantly advantaged by the exceptionally high lithium concentration in the Salar de Atacama—the highest in the world—and the region’s high solar radiation, which enables the most cost-effective solar evaporation process globally. Despite these comparative advantages, Chile’s lithium production has stagnated in recent years. This stagnation can be attributed to the need for more flexible legislation surrounding the lithium industry or an increase in the number of CEOLs (Lithium Exploitation Contracts) to regain its position as the leading global producer of lithium. Furthermore, increased investment in national universities and research centers is essential to foster the development and implementation of new, clean technologies for future projects. By addressing these challenges, Chile has the potential to solidify its role as a key player in the global lithium market while promoting sustainable industrial practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/14/2/33lithiumbrines processnew lithium technologies |
| spellingShingle | Mauricio Mura Ignacio Castillo David Torres Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid Edelmira Gálvez Sandra Gallegos Jonathan Castillo Marinka Varas Ingrid Jamett Norman Toro Global Overview of the Lithium Market and Opportunities for Chile Resources lithium brines process new lithium technologies |
| title | Global Overview of the Lithium Market and Opportunities for Chile |
| title_full | Global Overview of the Lithium Market and Opportunities for Chile |
| title_fullStr | Global Overview of the Lithium Market and Opportunities for Chile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global Overview of the Lithium Market and Opportunities for Chile |
| title_short | Global Overview of the Lithium Market and Opportunities for Chile |
| title_sort | global overview of the lithium market and opportunities for chile |
| topic | lithium brines process new lithium technologies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/14/2/33 |
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