Codelco delays Maricunga Lithium Project start to 2034
2026-07-16 11:02:05 [Print]
Chile's state-owned copper giant Codelco announced on Wednesday that it now expects production from its Maricunga lithium project to commence in 2034, marking a four-year delay for one of the country's flagship battery metals developments.
Chairman Bernardo Fontaine confirmed that the project remains eight years from start-up, pushing back the timeline previously set by Chile's former government, which had targeted first production by 2030.
Codelco is developing Maricunga through a partnership with Rio Tinto established in 2025, representing the mining giant's entry into Chile's lithium sector, which has long been dominated by SQM and Albemarle.
The project is a cornerstone of Chile's national strategy to expand lithium output through state-led collaborations with global mining companies, while gradually reducing reliance on the country's two established producers.
Chairman Bernardo Fontaine confirmed that the project remains eight years from start-up, pushing back the timeline previously set by Chile's former government, which had targeted first production by 2030.
Codelco is developing Maricunga through a partnership with Rio Tinto established in 2025, representing the mining giant's entry into Chile's lithium sector, which has long been dominated by SQM and Albemarle.
The project is a cornerstone of Chile's national strategy to expand lithium output through state-led collaborations with global mining companies, while gradually reducing reliance on the country's two established producers.
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