Corfo Awards Project for Chilean Pilot Platform to Test Direct Lithium Extraction Technologies

The National Production Development Corporation (Corfo) has approved a $1.9 million R&D contribution for the project, funded through royalties from Albemarle’s mining operations in the Salar de Atacama, with consortium partners adding $240,000. The initiative’s objective is to bypass the traditional 18-month lithium recovery process based on evaporative ponds, enabling mineral retrieval within days or hours through chemical processes. This represents a critical step to increase recovery rates and reduce water consumption in Chile’s lithium sector. The awarded proposal included a comprehensive review of the state of EDL technology, mapping its maturity and efficiency relative to brine types, identifying scaling constraints, and a detailed plan to design a Chilean pilot plant.

A significant component of the project involves an integrated study of hydrogeological and geochemical data from Chilean salares and lagoons to define representative experimental conditions for testing. The CNP and partners will recommend strategic sites and design necessary infrastructure for a national testbed facility. Further tasks include technical equipment specification, cost estimation, stakeholder and potential client identification, and selecting brine compositions to ensure the relevance of pilot tests.

Corfo mandates that all outcomes and documentation be transferred to the National Institute of Lithium and Salars under agreed protocols, to facilitate future platform implementation. This pilot platform is positioned to enhance Chile’s leadership in lithium technology innovation, improving extraction efficiency and environmental performance amidst increasing global demand for battery-grade lithium. The project aligns with broader strategic efforts to advance sustainable mining practices and maintain Chile’s competitive advantage in the growing global lithium market.