Chile’s Lithium Resources See Significant Boost!

9th April 2025 Chile’s Lithium Resources See Significant Boost!

New studies of salt flats in Chile’s northern Antofagasta region reveal a 28% increase in total lithium resources, according to ENAMI (Empresa Nacional de Minería). The updated analysis highlights:

  • La Isla Salt Flat: 2.13 million metric tons of lithium (+150% from prior estimates).
  • Aguilar Salt Flat: Just under 1 million metric tons (+40%).

Together, these findings add an impressive 3.05 million tons of lithium to Chile’s resource base, bringing the total to 14 million tons—up from the U.S. Geological Survey’s previous estimate of 11 million tons.

Key findings

This discovery strengthened Chile’s position as the world’s number one holder of lithium reserves (9.3 million tons) and the second-largest global producer. The Atacama salt flat powers lithium production for state-run SQM and U.S.-based Albemarle. ENAMI’s Salares Altoandinos Project is gearing up to become a major player, with partners like BYD, Eramet, POSCO, Rio Tinto, and LG Energy vying to collaborate.

World class project

ENAMI head Iván Mlynarz Puig calls it a “world-class project” and with this data-backed surge in resources, Chile solidifies its role as a critical hub for the global energy transition.

Next WMC Congress

World Mining Congress

2026

The 27th World Mining Congress will be organized in 2026 in Peru. Detailed information can be found either on the 27th WMC official webpage or the first circular.

Learn more
27th
Next IOC Meeting

IOC / WMC Meeting

2025

The 106th IOC/WMC meeting will be organized on September 18th 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Learn more
106th

Our news Others news

16th September 2025 Bahrain steps into the future of deep sea mining

Seabeds raw minerals. Source; Photo by Nathan Langer on Unsplash

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has made a press release informing that it has received an…

10th September 2025 Anglo American and Teck are joining forces

Big news in the mining sector. Anglo American and Teck Resources Limited are joining forces in…

5th September 2025 A new chapter for mining in Minas Gerais

Open pit mine. Source: Photo by omid roshan on Unsplash

Vale has made a press release informing that it celebrated an important milestone: the reopening of…

2nd September 2025 Ukraine announces 50-year lithium mining tender

Lithium battery. Source: Photo by Vardan Papikyan on Unsplash

Reuters has informed that Ukraine has taken a significant step forward in strengthening its strategic economic…

25th August 2025

Machu Picchu landscape. Source: Unsplash.

Peru’s Mining Sector Shows Strong Growth The Minister of Energy and Mines, Jorge Montero, announced that…

22nd August 2025 Peabody Energy announces the termination of its agreements with Anglo American

Coal. Source: unsplash.

Peabody Energy has made a press release announcing the termination of its agreements with Anglo American…

21st August 2025 Glencore has taken an important $13 billion step in Argentina

Truck during hauling process. Source: Photo by Dominik Vanyi on Unsplash.

Glencore has informed that it has officially submitted applications for El Pachón and Agua Rica projects…

18th August 2025 Seabed collaboration

Seabeds raw minerals. Source; Photo by Nathan Langer on Unsplash

The Governments of the United States of America and the Cook Islands are launching a new…

12th August 2025 Fortescue secures landmark $1.98B loan to accelerate decarbonisation

Open pit mine aerial view. Source: Photo by Manuel Manser on Unsplash

Fortescue has just signed a US $1.98B yuan-denominated syndicated loan to supercharge its decarbonisation plans. This…

6th August 2025 Water and tailings in the spotlight: A call for innovation, transparency, and technical excellence

Crowded conference. Source: Photo by Alexandre Pellaes on Unsplash

On August 28–29 at the College of Engineers of Peru in Lima (San Isidro) the 2nd…