© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A roadblock is about as much as block entry to the Atacama salt flat, one of many world’s largest lithium deposits, close to Peine, Chile January 10, 2024. REUTERS/John Yevenes/File Picture
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SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Protesters agreed to finish demonstrations that had blocked entry to the Atacama salt flat in Chile, the world’s largest lithium deposit, with the promise of a go to by President Gabriel Boric.
Indigenous teams had for days blocked public roads that result in mining operations within the south of the salt flat, the place home producer SQM and U.S. agency Albemarle (NYSE:) extract the metallic, stopping staff, provides and lithium from coming into or leaving.
The demonstrations have been sparked by an settlement signed final month between SQM and state-run agency Codelco, which indigenous leaders mentioned sidelined native communities regardless of a latest authorities promise of a dialogue desk to debate lithium mining within the Atacama.
The Atacama Indigenous Council mentioned in a press release shared on the social media platform X on Friday that protesters would finish the occupation over the approaching hours after the mining ministry promised Boric would come to the realm. No timing was given for the go to.
The protest underscored a critical problem to a plan by Chile, the No. 2 lithium producer, to impose extra state management over the metallic wanted for batteries used to energy the world’s rising electrical car fleet.
“The president of Chile should know the Atacama salt flat earlier than specifying… the coverage,” the council’s assertion mentioned.
Albemarle mentioned earlier its operations continued as regular throughout the protest whereas SQM didn’t reply to a request for remark.