© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A roadblock is set up to block access to the Atacama Salt Flats, one of the world's largest lithium deposits, near Peine, Chile, January 10, 2024. REUTERS/John Yevenes/File Photo
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SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Protesters agreed to end demonstrations that had blocked access to Chile's Atacama salt flat, the world's largest lithium deposit, with the promise of a visit from President Gabriel Boric.
Indigenous groups had for days blocked public roads leading to mining operations in the south of the salt flat, where national producer SQM and the US firm Albermarle (NYSE:) extracts the metal, preventing the entry or exit of workers, supplies and lithium.
The demonstrations were sparked by an agreement signed last month between SQM and state-owned company Codelco, which indigenous leaders say marginalized local communities despite a recent government promise of a dialogue table to discuss lithium mining. in Atacama.
The Atacama Indigenous Council said in a statement shared on social media platform No date was given for the visit.
The protest underscored a serious challenge to a plan by Chile, the No. 2 lithium producer, to impose greater state control over the metal needed for batteries used to power the world's growing fleet of electric vehicles.
“The president of Chile must know the Atacama salt flat before specifying… the policy,” the council statement said.
Albemarle previously said its operations continued as normal during the protest, while SQM did not respond to a request for comment.
