Chilean national mining company ENAMI has revealed that its Salares Altoandinos project could increase the country’s lithium resources by 28%.
The announcement was made during CESCO Week 2025, a key event for mining sector leaders, based on data from an exploration campaign and resource estimate conducted by the consultancy Amphos 21 and reviewed by Montgomery & Associates.
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The Salares Altoandinos project, comprising the La Isla and Aguilar salt flats in the northern Antofagasta region, has been confirmed to hold 3.05 million tonnes (mt) of lithium.
Salar La Isla’s resources surged by 150% to 2.13mt of lithium, while Salar Aguilar saw a 40% rise in resources to 920,000 tonnes (t).
ENAMi executive vice-president Iván Mlynarz said: “These results are important because we are moving from potential resources to certified and reviewed by a third party, and this confirms that Salares Altoandinos is a global project.”
Chile’s current lithium resources, primarily from Salar de Atacama, stand at 11mt, as per the United States Geological Survey.
The Salares Altoandinos project, which also includes the Salar Grande, is in its final phase of selecting a development partner.
Mlynarz added: “These are important data to keep in mind because we are weeks away from establishing the public-private partnership for this project that will bring lithium to the country from the Atacama Region.”
Companies from China, France, South Korea, England and Australia, including BYD Chile, Eramet Chile, Posco Holdings and Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration, are participating in the negotiations.
Additionally, CNGR Advanced Material and LG Energy Solution have shown interest in financing.
A key milestone for the Salares Altoandinos project will be the submission of a Special Operation Agreement or Contrato Especial de Operación to the Comptroller General of the Republic for approval. This follows a successful indigenous consultation process.
In January 2025, Chile’s national development agency, Corfo, launched an initiative to promote the extraction of strategic minerals such as cobalt and rare earth elements from mining waste.
