ENAMI says Chinese antitrust review of Rio Tinto Lithium Project faces several-month delay
2026-08-07 12:08:17 [Print]
The head of Chile's state-owned mining company ENAMI announced on Thursday that the Chinese antitrust regulator's review of a lithium project being developed in partnership with Rio Tinto will be delayed by several months.
ENAMI Executive Vice President Juan Carlos Saez informed a legislative session that once the review receives approval, the company will move forward with Rio Tinto to develop the Salares Altoandinos project, which carries an estimated investment requirement exceeding $3 billion.
"It has just been delayed; it was originally expected to be delivered around July or August. I believe they are going to delay it a few more months," he told lawmakers.
ENAMI projects that the initiative will commence operations in 2032 with an annual production capacity of 35,000 metric tons, gradually ramping up to 75,000 tons over a three-year period.
ENAMI Executive Vice President Juan Carlos Saez informed a legislative session that once the review receives approval, the company will move forward with Rio Tinto to develop the Salares Altoandinos project, which carries an estimated investment requirement exceeding $3 billion.
"It has just been delayed; it was originally expected to be delivered around July or August. I believe they are going to delay it a few more months," he told lawmakers.
ENAMI projects that the initiative will commence operations in 2032 with an annual production capacity of 35,000 metric tons, gradually ramping up to 75,000 tons over a three-year period.
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