SQM Lithium Ventures is proud to say that it has increased its investment in Altilium by USD 9.43 million, bringing its total contribution to USD 12 million. Altilium Clean Technologies, a UK-based startup dedicated to clean technologies, seeks to support the energy transition towards net zero emissions. This investment completes Altilium's "Series A" financing round and marks the largest investment to date by SQM Lithium Ventures, highlighting its commitment to developing a circular economy for sustainable battery materials.

SQM Lithium Ventures made an initial investment of $2.57 million in Altilium last year, and the company has since achieved several important development milestones. These include the expansion of its recycling facilities in the UK, improvements to its patented "EcoCathode" hydrometallurgical process and the strengthening of its management team.

The additional funding will accelerate the expansion of Altilium's activities in the UK and Europe. This will facilitate the launch of its full battery circularity offering, spanning from zero-carbon EV battery collection, to black mass recycling and direct-to-cathode active material (CAM) chemical refining.

Key milestones for 2024 include the construction of a small commercial scale plant in Plymouth, Devon, to process battery and CAM precursors. As well as the establishment of Battery Recycling Stations (BRS) to transform electric vehicle batteries into high-quality black mass. Additionally, Altilium is progressing the adaptation of an SX-EW plant in Eastern Europe for hydrometallurgical refining and plans to complete an electric vehicle battery recycling facility on Teesside, with the capacity to process waste batteries from 150,000 electric vehicles and meet 20% of UK CAM demand by 2030.

Altilium and SQM leaders expressed their excitement about this partnership and their shared commitment to sustainability and innovation in the lithium battery industry. This investment not only seeks to generate a positive impact on the circular economy and the reduction of carbon emissions, but also to establish new sustainable supply chains for critical materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt.

Santiago, Chile, September 6, 2023. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-A, SQM-B), the “Company” informs that it has received IRMA 75, the highest rating delivered to date, for its operation lithium mining company in the Salar de Atacama of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) The on-site audit was carried out last year, as SQM committed to conduct an independent assessment of its operations in the Salar de Atacama to provide greater transparency to all stakeholders.

SQM is one of the first lithium miners to undergo a global IRMA audit. Through these audits, an IRMA-trained and approved auditing firm evaluates the operation in 26 areas, including water management, human rights, greenhouse gas emissions and fair labor, among others. IRMA is the world's most comprehensive, rigorous and transparent mining standard, developed over 10 years with input from numerous stakeholders. IRMA members include key players in the electric vehicle industry, including BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and Volkswagen AG.

The IRMA scoring system recognizes four levels of performance: IRMA Transparency, in which a mine is evaluated by third parties and publicly shares its scores; IRMA 50 or 75, meaning a mine shares its scores and also meets a core set of critical requirements along with at least 50 percent or 75 percent achievement of the possible score in each of the four principles the Standard for Responsible Mining (business integrity, planning for positive legacies, social and environmental responsibility); and IRMA 100, which means that the mine meets all the requirements of the Standard.

The ranking is an additional effort of SQM's commitment to the transparency of its operations and reflects SQM's commitment to producing the most sustainable lithium in the world in the Salar de Atacama.

Committed to sustainable mining and supporting human development, SQM's objective is to ensure environmentally friendly processes. For this reason, the company works for the carbon neutrality of its lithium products by 2030 and the zero carbon footprint of the entire company by 2040. SQM has also joined the Race To Zero; global campaign bringing together 11.000 organizations to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2050, while meeting criteria aligned with science. In this same context, the company has already reduced its consumption of continental water by 50% in the Salar de Atacama and aims to reduce its use by 65% ​​throughout the company by 2040. For this, a team of scientists de SQM is in charge of continuous monitoring using its unique knowledge of the geological and hydrogeological conditions of the Salar de Atacama.

SQM leads the industry in terms of shared value, becoming the largest taxpayer in Chile in 2022, contributing more than US$5 billion to the Chilean treasury and regions. In addition to corporate taxes and a progressive lease payment structure, which ensures that SQM's contributions increase with the price of lithium, SQM is dedicated to sharing the value of its operations with local communities. SQM contributes between US$10 and 15 million annually to the indigenous communities neighboring the Salar de Atacama. Additionally, 1,7% of SQM Salar's revenues are paid to the regional government of Antofagasta, the municipalities of Antofagasta, María Elena and the commune of San Pedro de Atacama. To support the development of the local economy, SQM also invests heavily in R&D in the region.

SQM's work in the region to empower local communities aims to create shared social value. SQM continues to work with communities throughout the region to share knowledge in key areas such as entrepreneurship, agriculture and education, in addition to supporting medical and dental services, improving the well-being of remote communities. SQM is also proud to welcome an increasing number of people from neighboring communities to work at its operations through training and apprenticeship programs.

Ricardo Ramos, General Manager of SQM, commented: “Achieving IRMA 75 for our lithium operations in the Salar de Atacama is an important milestone and a testament to the hard work of everyone at SQM. Committing our lithium mining operations to an IRMA audit and transparently sharing audit results reflects our desire to improve and have an open dialogue with all stakeholders. We will continue to strengthen our work to become the world's most sustainable source of lithium, to contribute to the communities surrounding the Salar de Atacama, and to work to further reduce our environmental footprint. This audit serves as a roadmap to IRMA 100, full compliance with IRMA standards. The energy transition must be just and sustainable, and we are proud to play our part. There is still much work to be done, but in collaboration with our stakeholders, we are committed to investing the necessary efforts to achieve our shared vision.”

Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of IRMA, said: “We congratulate the SQM team that carried out this IRMA audit. It demonstrates SQM's commitment to transparency and community engagement, and its intention to continue improving social and environmental performance at its Salar de Atacama operation."

The company is part of the prestigious publication that seeks to evaluate, standardize and compare sustainability data from the global market, to make transparent and disseminate data that direct the flow of capital towards initiatives with a positive impact on communities and the environment.

An important milestone was achieved by SQM with its inclusion in the outstanding 2022 S&P Sustainability Yearbook, which recognizes the leading companies in the field of sustainability worldwide. The company classified within a total of 2.100 organizations, which represent more than 45% of the global market capitalization, which participated in this corporate sustainability evaluation process, out of a total of 7500 companies that were initially called to be part of the post.

This recognition ratifies the company's commitments that are reflected in its robust Sustainability Plan, which more than a year after its launch has made important steps focused on its three central axes: Contribution to Sustainable Industries, Our People and Our Environment; pillars that the organization addresses with the conviction of challenging its operational practices in harmony with the environment, deepening dialogue and building close and respectful relationships with neighboring communities and, in achieving a high standard of transparency in all its work.

José Miguel Berguño, Senior Vice President of Corporate Services at SQM, highlights: “we are proud to be considered among the select group of leading companies in sustainability at a global level in this yearbook that evaluates the practices and trends of the current global market, where they recognize our progress and efforts in caring for the environment, community relations and corporate governance. This is a big step in our roadmap towards Sustainability, a process that we began at the end of 2020 and that we hope to continue improving year after year. This recognition motivates us to continue working, pursuing our goal of being a world leader in sustainability”.

The executive added that: “We are facing a global scenario that challenges us to be permanently innovating in our production processes, under the highest reporting standards that guide us in the correct line towards carbon neutrality in all our products by 2040, with the aspiration to contribute to strategic industries for human development and the construction of a sustainable future, in a collaborative manner with the communities and our stakeholders”.

Thus, the company that stands out among the companies in the global chemical industry and that is positioned among the 10% of the best companies in the world in ESG management, joins this corporate sustainability yearbook, which evaluates the development of the selected organizations under the environmental, social and corporate governance factors, known as ESG analysis of S&P Global, which allows explaining how companies adapt to the rapid changes in the current environment, considering aspects such as the transition to carbon neutrality, the labor market, the protection of biodiversity, in addition to inclusion and diversity, among other matters.

Certifications

In line with its aspiration for sustainability, SQM adhered to the principles of the Global Battery Alliance (GBA) belonging to the World Economic Forum. In addition, the company joined the UN Race To Zero program, an initiative in line with the Paris Agreement, which shows its commitment to climate action and carbon neutrality.

Also noteworthy is the rating for the second consecutive year in the demanding world reference index "S&P Dow Jones Index" Chile and Mila DJSI, whose score positions the company in the top 5% of the global chemical industry and shows the significant improvement faced by the organization in economic, environmental, social and governance criteria.

Added to this are the positive results of the diagnosis process notified in December 2021 by the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP, an international non-profit entity that runs the most complete disclosure system on climate management. In this competitive certification, in which SQM participates for the first time, category B was obtained, which consolidates the company at a level higher than the regional average for South America, ranking among the 48% of companies that reached the same level. management (managament level) of the international chemical sector.

The Chilean lithium company consolidates its commitment to transparency in the information it reports and measurements according to the highest levels of social and environmental protection in mining.

Santiago, Chile: SQM, a global leader in the production of world-class lithium, based in the Salar de Atacama, Chile, announces the start of a third-party audit according to the most rigorous standards of best practices in social responsibility and the environment in industrial-scale miners: the Initiative for the Assurance of Responsible Mining (IRMA) Responsible Mining Standard.

According to a United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) report published in 2020, IRMA certification “is the only standard for industrial-scale mining focused on mine sites that considers multiple stakeholders. offering independent third-party verification and certification, requiring corrective action and continuous improvement.” In addition, IRMA is the only standard for mining sites that requires community participation in all steps of the process, a central aspect for SQM. The IRMA standard has the most robust criteria in relation to labor and fair terms of employment and occupational and community safety and health.”

By initiating an independent third-party audit that is publicly known, the company can now participate as a Member in the Initiative for the Assurance of Responsible Mining (IRMA) program. SQM is the second lithium mining company and the first mining company in Chile to initiate an independent IRMA audit and through it becomes a full member of IRMA.

Stakeholders can contact ERM-CVS auditors, an IRMA approved certification body, directly. Upon completion, an audit report will also be shared publicly, allowing reviewers to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the operation and guide improvements. SQM encourages different stakeholders to participate in the audit and review the resulting report as the company works to continually improve its practices in the months and years to come.

This membership is part of SQM's established processes to work towards a higher standard of transparency and public responsibility in its corporate objectives on environmental matters, sustainable operations and social responsibility. It is also linked to the role that the company plays in the value chain of strategic companies that support human development, among which is the revolution of electric vehicles and sustainable mobility.

At the end of 2021, SQM also announced its participation in the UN's “Race To Zero” program and the testing of the first high-tonnage electric truck in Chile to be used in low-emission mining operations, further demonstrating your ESG commitments.

Commenting on the news, SQM CEO Ricardo Ramos said: “This is a fantastic step forward for SQM in our continued efforts to lead the industry in terms of sustainability commitments and public disclosure of our ESG goals. SQM's IRMA membership represents the latest development in a host of green initiatives, but we won't stop there. Our goal is to achieve IRMA Transparency Level by 2022 and IRMA 50 by 2025, and we feel strongly optimistic that we will be able to make the necessary changes to meet these carefully considered goals. This is an exciting time for SQM as we continue to explore innovative ways to make our lithium production ever more environmentally friendly, while listening to and supporting our local communities.”

About SQM

Headquartered in northern Chile, SQM has been providing solutions for human progress for 53 years through its five business lines. Its products are essential for the health, food and technology industries, and for the generation of clean energy that moves the world.

SQM was built and is managed based on a culture of excellence, safety, sustainability and integrity. It seeks to position itself as a leader in sustainability to create a "green" brand through its continuous efforts to manage natural resources responsibly, care for the environment, relationships based on trust with communities and the creation of shared social value.

About IRMA

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is the response to the global demand for more socially and environmentally responsible mining. IRMA offers independent third party certification and verification against the most rigorous and comprehensive mining standard. IRMA is the only global mining standard system governed equitably by civil society working alongside the private sector. IRMA can be used for all mined materials and provides 'one stop shop' for the full range of problems related to the impact of industrial-scale mines.

In order to promote value for mining companies to improve and adhere to the highest standards of responsible mining practices, and to support buyers' commitment to due diligence in reducing damage to supply chains, IRMA offers verification of part third-party performance according to rigorous and comprehensive criteria for social and environmental responsibility.

The IRMA standard was developed in 2006 in consultation with 100 other stakeholders, and can be applied to all sizes of industrial mines in all parts of the world. You can view more information on governance, requests in IRMA standards, and the audit process at www.responsiblemining.net.

This evaluation of the Dow Jones highlights improvements in the performance of indices such as corporate governance, code of conduct, environmental policy management, human capital development, along with attracting and retaining talent, in line with the aspiration of sustainability of the company.

SQM has set for itself the challenge of being leaders in sustainability and contributing to industries that are strategic for human development while upholding the highest global standards and responding to competitive international indices. It seeks to generate shared value in line with the aspirations of and in collaboration with neighboring communities, customers, employees and other diverse stakeholders.

In this spirit, the company adds a new achievement of qualifying for both the Dow Jones Sustainability Chile Index (DJSI) and the DJSI MILA Index with an overall score of 74/100. This score positions SQM among the top 5% in the chemical industry thanks to substantially improved performances in economic, social and environmental dimensions, in comparison to 2020.

This Down Jones evaluation shows an increase of 14 points in one year and a growth of 19 percentile points, which reaffirms the organization's commitments one year after presenting its Sustainability Plan, based among other things on the Sustainable Development proposed by the United Nations, which contemplates a series of initiatives throughout the company that seek not only to demonstrate, but also to guarantee the total and absolute commitment to the environment and the integral and sustainable development of its operations and of all those who in some way participate in them. Far beyond that imposed by laws and regulations.

Javier Silva, Salar Contract and Sustainability Manager for SQM, spotlighted these results “since they evaluate our performance and show that our efforts to strengthen sustainability are on the right path. This drives us to reaffirm this commitment, which is part of our development strategy and translates into challenging our operating practices to reduce environmental impact; expanding dialogue and building close, respectful relationships with surrounding communities; and achieving a high standard of transparency in all we do.”

Progress and Challenges

The company earned a positive performance rating in all dimensions analyzed by the assessment and also increased their percentile. The economic dimension had the best score with 76 points, 16 above last year. In environmental matters, we improved from 63 to 74 points, while the social area advanced from 57 to 73 points.  

Several key indices in these dimensions are measured to gauge the organization's performance, including aspects like corporate governance, code of conduct, environmental policy management, human capital development, attracting and retaining talent, among other topics.

Javier Silva highlighted the progress in the environmental dimension, which exceeds the industry average. According to him, various elements were incorporated in this area to measure actions to mitigate the effects of climate change, which is a topic that the company considers in its robust Sustainability Plan with carbon neutrality goals. In this area the company boasted one of the best-evaluated indices, operational eco-efficiency, or how operations adapt to the global goals to transition to more sustainable industries.

The executive noted that this is in keeping with the sustainability goals set by the company, which include: reducing continental water use by 40% by 2030 and 65% by 2040; cutting brine extraction in half by 50, which was already reduced by 2030% in 20; reducing emissions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2020 and reducing waste by 2040% by 50

SQM participated in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index assessment for the first time in 2020. Placing among Chile’s five most sustainable companies according to the IPSA ESG, the company qualified for the DJSI Chile and the DJSI MILA Pacific Alliance. Given the positive strides made in this recent measurement, the company’s next goal is to close gaps and make progress towards being listed on the DJSI World and DJSI EM in order to continue to help build a sustainable future

SQM’s “More Lithium, Less Footprint” Competition Comes to a Close:

Antü Energía was awarded first place in SQM's innovation competition, taking home US$50,000 that it plans to use to benefit families in remote locations. 

The winning startup dazzled the jury with its pitch on a mobile energy generation and storage offering for users in isolated communities who are energy impoverished and/or electro-dependent.

As part of its corporate sustainability and innovation plan, SQM launched the “More Lithium, Less Footprint” innovation competition a few weeks ago. The competition concluded on Wednesday, November 10th, at an event hosted by journalist María Elena Dressel at the TVN television studio where 10 proposals selected from a total of 52 participating in the competition presented their projects to the jury. Jury members included Pablo Altimiras, Beatriz Oelckers, Carlos Díaz, Iván Vera, Ángeles Romo, Sebastián Gilbert and Felipe Matta, experts in areas ranging from the lithium industry to innovation, startups and venture capital. The three winners were Antü Energía, Movener and rECOnnect, which were awarded US$50,000, US$30,000 and US$20,000, respectively, to support their projects. In addition to this funding, SQM executives also committed to provide mentoring.

Pablo Altimiras, Senior Vice-President of Sales, Lithium and Iodine at SQM, explained why this project is so meaningful for the company, “The ‘More Lithium, Less Footprint’ challenge is very important because it brings together three elements that are key for SQM: sustainability, the lithium business and innovation. These elements achieve the triple impact of supporting Chilean entrepreneurship, aiming to solve environmental challenges and making a significant social impact. Lithium batteries are positively changing the world and we see that impact also potentially benefiting Chileans through this competition. We are cognizant of what our country and our planet need today. And we do not want to hold back from the fight to reduce the carbon footprint. Rather, we want to be active role models and contribute our expertise. We are very pleased with the results of the competition and definitely plan to hold others in the future.”

“More Lithium, Less Footprint” was supported by INNSPIRAL—a corporate innovation accelerator—and was open to R&D centers, universities, SMEs, startups, among other organizations. It was looking for proposals that contributed to and positively impacted initiatives related to electromobility and storage systems. About the competition, INNSPIRAL president and founder Iván Vera remarked: “We are very happy with the outcome. We have achieved something very important by connecting companies like SQM with startups with the potential to scale up in Chile and abroad. The support is not only financial, but includes know-how regarding large-scale business and the key players in the ecosystem.”.

Noteworthy Finalists

Of the 52 proposals participating in the contest—running from September 27th to October 24th—48 were from different regions throughout Chile, while the remaining four were from other Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico), demonstrating the scope and market surrounding the topic.

Highest honors went to Antü Energía, with its lithium-ion battery-powered device that can connect to photovoltaic panels and, therefore, take electricity to the country’s most remote areas. According to Manuel Mata, the founding partner and CEO of Antü, it was an “opportunity to show the world what we do, demonstrating to the public that innovation and technological development can be done locally, while caring for the environment and positively impacting those who need it most.”.

Second place went to Movener, a startup specialized in training mechanic shops all over Chile to give them the tools they need to convert combustion engines to electric in order to strengthen electromobility in Chile. “We attack the problem of climate change and carbon footprint not only from the standpoint of operating a vehicle but also that of creation. By making it an electric car, we are producing one fewer new vehicle and, therefore, we have reduced emissions from manufacturing,” explained Gonzalo Pacheco, founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Movener.

And, finally, third place was awarded to an initiative that delivers bulk cleaning products in reusable containers within 48 hours, with a platform to predict the demand of each household and plan logistics for the electric vehicles transporting the products. Antonio Irarrázabal, founding partner and CEO of rECOnnect, touched on the importance of the innovation competition, “It meant a lot. One can move existing processes into the future. It has been quite a learning process, where we have been able to validate each of the stages we have developed. It has been fun, challenging and extremely encouraging, from the support to opportunities like this, where SQM and INNSPIRAL joined forces to help us make models like these grow and generate a better Chile with consumer products that are viable for the future.”

Santiago, Chile.  

SQM, one of the world's leading world-class lithium producers, based in the Salar de Atacama in Chile, joined the Race To Zero program as part of its Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). ) of the “Business Ambition for 1,5°C” campaign. 

As part of the campaign, SQM is committing to the goal of reducing emissions across all its activities in line with the Paris Agreement, with transparent action plans and robust near-term targets  

Race To Zero is a United Nations global movement that brings together non-state actors across the global economy to take immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time. The Business Ambition campaign is the world’s largest and fastest-growing group of companies that will seek to limit global warming to 1,5°C and halve global emissions by 2030. 

By participating in the Race To Zero, SQM will have to fulfil four requirements:   

1. Commit: Pledge to reach (net)-zero as soon as possible and set an interim target for its fair share of 50% reduction by 2030 (Scope 1&2);

2 To plan: Within 24 months of joining, explain what actions will be taken for achieving both interim and longer-term pledges;

3. Proceed: Take immediate, meaningful action consistent with the short- and long-term targets specified;

4. Publish: Report progress annually by publishing against its targets on a public platform.   

SQM has already begun exploring its options for making its logistics routes low carbon, by introducing Chile’s first high-tonnage electric truck to be used in large-scale mining onto an 86-kilometer route from the company’s Coya Sur plant in María Elena to the port of Tocopilla. The 90 diesel trucks which currently make this journey cover an estimated 7.500 kilometers per month.   

Switching SQM's fleet from 320 diesel trucks to electronic trucks would eliminate approximately 3.840 tons of CO2 per year.   

SQM is currently testing the range, capacity and operability of the trucks, which were designed by Enel X.  

If the project is successful, the e-trucks will also be introduced onto the Salar de Atacama-Carmen Lithium Chemical Plant route. This is the highest traffic route for the lithium process, with 230 trucks in service.  

Ricardo Ramos, CEO of SQM said: “As a company that places the environment at the heart of all our activities, SQM is pleased to be part of the Race To Zero program as we seek to reduce our carbon emissions. While ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality lithium is critical to supporting essential technologies for a decarbonized future, SQM's goal is to lead the industry by example by setting the highest standards for ourselves." 

ENDS

About SQM 

Based in northern Chile, SQM has provided solutions for human progress for 53 years through its five business lines. Its products are essential for the health, food and technology industries and for the generation of the clean energies that move the world.  

SQM was created and is managed based on a culture of excellence, safety, sustainability and integrity. It seeks to position itself as a leader in sustainability to create a "green" brand through continuous efforts to responsibly manage natural resources, care for the environment, form close and trusting relationships with local communities, and create shared social value. 

About Race To Zero  

Race to Zero is the UN-backed global campaign rallying non-state actors across the global economy to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time.   

All members are committed to the same overarching goal: reducing emissions across all scopes swiftly and fairly in line with the Paris Agreement, with transparent action plans and robust near-term targets.   

Led by the High-Level Climate Champions for Climate Action – Nigel Topping and Gonzalo Muñoz – Race To Zero mobilizes actors outside of national governments to join the Climate Ambition Alliance  

About Enel X  

Enel X is the Enel Group’s global business line offering services that accelerate innovation and drive the energy transition. A global leader in advanced energy solution sector, Enel X manages services such as demand response for around 6 GW of total capacity at global level and 124 MW of storage capacity installed worldwide, as well as around 175.000 public and private electric vehicle charging points made available around the globe.

The first high-tonnage electric truck to operate in Chile’s large-scale mining industry is a 28-ton Yutong ZKH5310ZLJP6BEV with a 422 kWh battery pack.

Enel X and SQM developed a leasing model for the purchase of the electric truck and the installation of a 1 kW charging station that can fully charge the truck’s battery in three hours. The charging infrastructure will be installed at the Coya Sur plant in María Elena, guaranteeing almost 150 kilometers of autonomy.

An important new study by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has yielded critical fresh insights into the lithium production process and how it relates to long-term environmental sustainability, particularly in the area of transportation with batteries and electric vehicles.

The article "Energy, Greenhouse Gas, and Water Life Cycle Analysis of Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate from Brine and Ore Resources and Their Use in Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes and Lithium Ion Batteries" greenhouse gases and water from lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide monohydrate from brine and mineral resources and their use in lithium-ion battery cathodes and lithium-ion batteries), published in the journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling, was the result of a unique collaboration with SQM, a Chilean company that is one of the largest lithium producers in the world.

According to Argonne lifecycle analyst and lead author Jarod Kelly, the researchers — using operational data supplied by SQM — found that the sourcing of lithium, from both a process and location perspective, can strongly affect its associated environmental impacts.

“The results show that concentrated lithium brine and its related end products can vary significantly in energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, sulfur dioxide emissions, and water consumption depending on the allocation method. resources used," Kelly explained.

The researchers modeled brine-based lithium extracted from the Salar de Atacama, a large salt flat in northern Chile near the Andes Mountains. The lithium is naturally dried in large ponds to evaporate the water, concentrate the lithium, and remove impurities. Materials and energy are later added to produce lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. These two end products are shipped worldwide to battery cathode producers that process them into a variety of battery materials.

The study findings could have major implications for how to optimize lithium production at each stage of the process, which would result in more environmentally friendly products, particularly battery electric vehicles. The International Energy Agency predicts that demand for lithium may grow by as much as 40 times between 2020 and 2040, mainly due to global deployment of electric vehicles.

"Examining current lithium production and looking at future production, including in the United States, are critical to sustaining electric vehicle deployment," said Michael Wang, director of the Argonne Systems Evaluation Center and co-author. of the studio.

"This study establishes a baseline for current practices and shows us potential areas for improvement," added Kelly. "With more research, it will be possible to use this information to help develop best practices for producing lithium in the most sustainable way."

SQM initially contacted Argonne last year to collaborate in support of the company's recently unveiled ambitious sustainability goals. "In accordance with our sustainability plan, we want to take a closer look at carbon emissions, water consumption and energy consumption in our lithium products, and see how it affects the rest of the value chain," said Veronica Gautier. , head of innovation at SQM. "This information will help us reach our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030."

The analysis will also help address a general issue in the global trend toward electrification of transportation with battery electric vehicles, Wang said. “Electrification is often aimed at environmental sustainability. But we need to know more about lithium battery production before we can say we're really on a sustainable path," he said. "This study provides crucial insights into the electric mobility value chain."

The formal analysis used Argonne’s open-source modeling tool, GREET (Greenhouse gases Regulated Emissions and Energy in Technologies), with detailed data and technical insight coming from SQM. In addition to the brine-based lithium extracted in Chile, the researchers augmented their data by modeling ore-based lithium extracted from spodumene ore in Western Australia.

Kelly said it was the first analysis of its kind to be based on such comprehensive data from an industrial partner. Gautier added that SQM was pleased that the study results were now publicly available and would help further global efforts toward ensuring responsible and sustainable lithium production.

"It is important to us to have full and complete transparency on how our process works, and we are delighted to leverage Argonne's experience and expertise," he said. "Sharing this information will have great educational value."

Learn more by downloading the paper: Enlace

A groundbreaking collaboration with one of the world’s largest producers of lithium will yield critical insights into the lithium production process and how it relates to environmental sustainability.

As lithium is increasingly seen as a critical ingredient for more environmentally friendly products, particularly in the area of transportation, a new groundbreaking public-private collaboration will yield critical insights into the lithium production process and how it relates to long-term environmental sustainability.

SQM, a Chilean company and one of the world's largest lithium producers, and the Argonne National Laboratory of the US Department of Energy, a leading scientific research institution located outside of Chicago, Illinois, have published a collaboration which will study SQM's process to produce lithium. - with a view to better understanding the sustainability challenges associated with lithium products.

Chile has long been a leading producer of lithium, which has become an essential element for the rechargeable battery market, among other uses. With the U.S. Geological Survey estimating that batteries comprise 65 percent of the lithium end-use market, both SQM and Argonne, a pioneer in battery research, have a strong mutual interest in evaluating the environmental effects of lithium. their production.

"In accordance with our sustainability plan, we want to take a closer look at carbon emissions, water consumption and energy consumption in our lithium products, and see how it affects the rest of the value chain," said Veronica Gautier. , head of innovation at SQM. "This information will help us achieve our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030."

The formal analysis began last year and uses Argonne's open source modeling tool, GREET (Regulated Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy in Technologies), with detailed data and technical knowledge sourced from SQM. The results of the study are expected to be published later this year.

Jarod Kelly, a life cycle analyst at Argonne's Power Systems division, which oversees the project, said the partnership will provide a better understanding of the environmental impacts of battery production because the analysis will be based on more comprehensive data. than is usually available.

"It's very exciting for us, because we can be sure that the kind of data we're using is appropriate and relevant, and it's really cutting edge," Kelly said. "Working directly with an industry partner like this is incredibly valuable."

According to Michael Wang, director of Argonne’s Systems Assessment Center and a member of the project team, the analysis will also help address an overarching question in the global trend toward the electrification of transportation with battery electric vehicles.

“Often electrification is for the purpose of pursuing environmental sustainability. But we need to know more about lithium battery production before we can say we are truly on a sustainable path, or if we are just simply solving one problem but creating another one,” Wang said.

Gautier added that SQM, which produces lithium from the Salar de Atacama, a large salt flat in the northern part of the country next to the Andes Mountains, would be making the study results publicly available.

"It's important to us to have full and complete transparency about how our process works, and we're excited to leverage Argonne's expertise and experience," he said. "Sharing this information will have great educational value."

SQM is the first lithium company in the world to join the IRMA certification, an initiative that promotes responsible mining practices, providing verification at a global level.

SQM has become the first lithium mining company to join the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) and is now a Pending Member in IRMA's Mining Sector. Full Membership will be attained when SQM commences a publicly announced independent audit against the IRMA Standard. This is a new step in the company's commitment to the environment, communities and the contribution to sustainable industries that is reflected in its robust Sustainability Plan and its Human Rights policy.

This Pending membership is part of SQM's solid process of working with a high standard of transparency and seeking public reportability of its objectives established in environmental matters, sustainable operation and social responsibility. It is also linked to the role that the company plays in the value chain of strategic industries for human development, among these being the revolution in electric vehicles and sustainable mobility.

IRMA works to promote responsible mining practices. To accomplish this, it provides verification and third-party certification of comprehensive environmental and social criteria for all extracted materials. It is a global standard that was developed over 10 years, in consultation with more than 100 stakeholder groups, including mining companies, affected communities, NGOs, labor groups, and companies that purchase mined materials. The standard covers all the processes involved and is applicable to all sizes of industrial mines in all parts of the world.

“SQM for years has advanced in building a sustainable operation with our environment, our communities and our contribution to sustainable industries, in the understanding that our refined lithium, iodine, specialty fertilizers and solar salts must comply not only with local laws, but also with the international standard. Our operation in the Salar becoming a Pending Member of IRMA helps us to consolidate best practices to address environmental, social and governance problems ”, affirmed Ricardo Ramos, CEO of SQM.

“We welcome SQM as a Pending Member and commend their commitment to be measured against IRMA's Standard for Responsible Mining”, said Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of IRMA. “Given the importance of lithium in the green energy transition, and the cultural and ecological sensitivity of this region, addressing the interests of diverse stakeholders is critical. Transparent sharing of performance against an IRMA audit will provide information of value for all, and opportunities for the market to value improved practices.”