Why Chile’s Lithium Mining Is At A Crossroad

Chile contains some of the largest and highest quality lithium brine resources in the world. This soft, white metal is integral to lithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles. And with demand for EVs booming, Chile’s vast salt flats have become a vital national resource. Now, the Chilean President Gabriel Boric has released its long-awaited national lithium policy, which requires private companies to partner with the state to further develop the country’s lithium resources, ushering in a new era for the industry. There are two main producers of lithium in Chile, SQM and Albemarle. CNBC visited the Atacama Desert in Chile to see Albemarle’s lithium mine and processing plant to see what is next for the world’s largest lithium producer.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
03:04 - History of lithium in Chile
07:15 - Politics of mining
12:27 - Opposition and concerns
17:34 - What’s next
Produced, Shot and Narration by: Katie Brigham
Supervising Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
Edited by: Amy Marino
Additional Camera: Shawn Baldwin
Animation: Christina Locopo
Translation: David Calderón, Beatriz Bajuelos Castillo
Senior Production Manager: Kathy Mavrikakis
Additional Footage: Getty Images, Albemarle, Archive.org, Government of Chile
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Why Chile’s Lithium Mining Is At A Crossroad

Пікірлер: 739

  • @stevensmith2078
    @stevensmith2078 Жыл бұрын

    It makes no sense that one commentator suggested that Chile should wait until it had more electric vehicles before making batteries. It should prioritize that part of the supply chain now to get an advantage before others take the lead. Go Chile!

  • @_ata_3

    @_ata_3

    Жыл бұрын

    That's right, that guy popping out of nowhere was weird. Makes no sense to wait that there are more electric cars in Chile if you want more electric cars there in the first place. Besides you can export batteries which I suppose Mr President of Global Lithium doesn't wants to. Developed countries want to keep on buying cheap raw materials from developing countries and then sell them back finished products. Aguante Chile desde Mexico.

  • @chiquita683

    @chiquita683

    Жыл бұрын

    You think those pretty lithium lakes are clean 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

  • @ab3000x

    @ab3000x

    Жыл бұрын

    @@chiquita683 extremely salty water vs petroleum. salty water for the win.

  • @BangBangBang.

    @BangBangBang.

    Жыл бұрын

    @@ab3000x I can't evacuate from a hurricane with a RC car that needs battery charging and batteries that can't get wet. DUH

  • @ab3000x

    @ab3000x

    Жыл бұрын

    @@BangBangBang. but you'll do fine in a modern EV! Have a great day!!! :^)

  • @gamf5996
    @gamf5996 Жыл бұрын

    I mean that’s always been the story latin america is “not ready” to move towards downstream activities and never will according to them, but downstream and added value manufacturing transitioning from raw materials to production has been what has developed countries like japan, korea, and now china.

  • @TheBooban

    @TheBooban

    Жыл бұрын

    Meanwhile, western countries don’t have upstream, down stream or any manufacturing except weapons. We do food delivery and warehouse pick and pack.

  • @Bell_plejdo568p

    @Bell_plejdo568p

    Жыл бұрын

    @@TheBooban only American can, and maybe the rest of the west is to resources poor

  • @sergioa5173

    @sergioa5173

    Жыл бұрын

    Now it makes more sense what Boric is doing. It´s clear how developed nations still see LATAM as a dispensary. Just go an collect whats needed to keep developing their industries. That game is over.

  • @orkkojit

    @orkkojit

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@sergioa5173 That's what China used to think with Mao's anti colonialist bs. Then they discovered capitalism and now produce 90 pc of the world's rare earth metals

  • @Kevin-oj2uo

    @Kevin-oj2uo

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@sergioa5173 Yes and they are like we want to extract your resources without paying too much taxes.

  • @ignacioaravale5676
    @ignacioaravale5676 Жыл бұрын

    As a Chilean citizen it is possible to observe a new great opportunity and the beginning of another mining cycle, which has defined our economy forever, from saltpeter, through copper and now lithium. I only hope that we can find the balance between ecology and a fair international policy (economy), which is where we citizens are affected.

  • @dieglhix

    @dieglhix

    Жыл бұрын

    lithium battery technology will be thoroughly replaced in less than 10 years

  • @iainwares6361

    @iainwares6361

    Жыл бұрын

    Lithium prices skyrocketed with demand for EV batteries and has now returned to pre 2020 prices with the advent of Sodium ion batteries beginning mass production by CATL at what will be half the cost of Lithium batteries possibly less when other companies ramp up. Lithium isn't forecast to crash, but demand and price could well decline much further in a few years.

  • @theeouttheres3083

    @theeouttheres3083

    Жыл бұрын

    i don't think it works to have these companies care about your ecology or even people when they don't live there. you can see the lady laugh inside when she says 600million in total paid for all the billions they've made and how when they aren't they will walk away and go home leaving generations a mess and poverty. how many times does this have to play out? the only way it can work is if the people on the land own it and work it.

  • @ignacioaravale5676

    @ignacioaravale5676

    Жыл бұрын

    @@dieglhix We Lived that With the saltpeter, it Last for a few years like 90 years a go, but then they discovered the cupper in the same land. The amount of minerals here is huge

  • @ignacioaravale5676

    @ignacioaravale5676

    Жыл бұрын

    @@iainwares6361 You right, now is the moment to act, I just hope that our goverment be smart

  • @JoeBloggs-ev2ui
    @JoeBloggs-ev2ui Жыл бұрын

    I'm from Australia and refining Lithium is such a polluting exercise, I'm not sure any country does it properly just yet. Caution on going grand scale as what you end up paying may be much more than what the country receives.

  • @hyy3657

    @hyy3657

    Жыл бұрын

    Chinese also a big buyer of Australian Lithium, they wants to buy it more greener, of course, Chile polluting, but that has happen if your country don't have that much of income.

  • @dansands8140

    @dansands8140

    Жыл бұрын

    Lithium brine is literally toxic waste and it's already there in vast quantities. Unlike mining lithium from rock, they're actually making these deserts less toxic.

  • @JoeBloggs-ev2ui

    @JoeBloggs-ev2ui

    Жыл бұрын

    @@dansands8140 I think you'll find that's not the case

  • @comradenz1927

    @comradenz1927

    Жыл бұрын

    How dare you !!!!! From New Zealand

  • @collin_mmarshall1655

    @collin_mmarshall1655

    Жыл бұрын

    It's okay.. don't worry. It's the liberalism and progressive agenda. Just consider the pollution as a blessing. Embrace it with full of denialism.

  • @farner01
    @farner01 Жыл бұрын

    Good for Chile. Make those companies pay but reinvest in real infrastructure, schools, hospitals, whatever the people need.

  • @fernandobanos7255

    @fernandobanos7255

    Жыл бұрын

    What a stupid socialist comment

  • @pratik.8156

    @pratik.8156

    Жыл бұрын

    Don't give them ideas Don't make this countries just like Saudi Emirates 😡

  • @donaldkasper8346

    @donaldkasper8346

    Жыл бұрын

    They always do that. They always pay off the locals.

  • @lilblackduc7312

    @lilblackduc7312

    Жыл бұрын

    It's all about Greed & Corruption. If the right 'special interests', environmental activists and politicians are paid-off, China will take over the entire show.💰💰💰

  • @jabrokneetoeknee6448

    @jabrokneetoeknee6448

    Жыл бұрын

    @@donaldkasper8346 They always pay off the local officials. That’s the problem with these countries that are stricken by the resource curse. That money almost never finds its way into the pockets of the surrounding population. Rather than reinvest it, a class of people friendly with the regime grows fat and wealthy from graft and the money ends up getting spent outside of the country’s borders

  • @nikodechela1
    @nikodechela1 Жыл бұрын

    The reporter said thay they didn't see any electric vehicles, but they didn't look for busses. Because Chile has the largest electric buses fleet in the region, more than three times the number of USA

  • @Ligmajohnson1989

    @Ligmajohnson1989

    Жыл бұрын

    You are wrong

  • @nikodechela1

    @nikodechela1

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Ligmajohnson1989 explain

  • @chiquita683

    @chiquita683

    Жыл бұрын

    You say 3 times as many as US as if the US has millions of them

  • @nikodechela1

    @nikodechela1

    Жыл бұрын

    I wanted to say that Chile has 3 times more than the US,

  • @serafinacosta7118

    @serafinacosta7118

    Жыл бұрын

    He meant to say per capita. An indication , perhaps , that BYD is at task there. America bias at its best.

  • @quisqueyanguy120
    @quisqueyanguy120 Жыл бұрын

    Chile needs to do whatever it needs to develop its own economy, for the good of the Chilean people. Its funny to see foreigners suggesting that Chile should not develop its own industries, its like a drug trafficker saying that you should not quit drugs because it will be bad for you, their lies are so funny. Go Chile! Pursue your own destiny!

  • @soujirou86
    @soujirou86 Жыл бұрын

    Hopefully Chile will have an efficient mixed state owned private industry that can satisfy growing demand, and also increasing chile's tax coffers. Really beautiful country, one of the best in the nation. Best regards from Pumalal, Chile.

  • @lilblackduc7312

    @lilblackduc7312

    Жыл бұрын

    ...It's all about Greed & Corruption. If the right 'special interests', environmental activists and politicians are paid-off, China will take over the entire show.💰💰

  • @Brommear

    @Brommear

    Жыл бұрын

    You mean socialism? No gracias desde Puerto Montt.

  • @fabianojeda3078

    @fabianojeda3078

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@Brommear funciono con el cobre jajaja

  • @Donnld
    @Donnld Жыл бұрын

    i think its great when a main source of income from a certain industry in any country pays its taxes with little to no fraud or corruption its the best way to modernize a nation

  • @GjaP_242

    @GjaP_242

    Жыл бұрын

    The US Department of Energy estimates that electric vehicles emit 60% less carbon pollution than gasoline-powered cars. The UN says lithium production will be vital in helping wean the world off fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 7:30 [World Economic Forum]

  • @artboymoy

    @artboymoy

    11 ай бұрын

    @@GjaP_242 Many solutions are needed to help this come to pass. If we can get decent storage for grid storage that's not lithium based, because it doesn't really need to be, then that will help alleviate a little of the demand and pressure to mine lithium. The piece also talked about recycling batteries as well, so if that comes to pass and ramps up, that would help as well.

  • @_moritzperez_
    @_moritzperez_11 ай бұрын

    As someone who lives in the area where the lithium is extracted. We dont want the lithium to be exploited no more. The aninals are dying brcaise of lack of water, the people somwtimes dont have water to shower , wash dishes and other day by day needs. The place is anatural beauty and the mining is destroying it!

  • @DarkStar3147
    @DarkStar3147 Жыл бұрын

    Sure, Argentina might take over as the world's 2nd producer, but at the cost of practically giving it away. Why, do you ask? Because money will go to the pockets of politicians, and not the Argentinian people. It has always worked that way, and it sill works the same way. Chile is making sure that the profits stay in the country, and minimizing the impact on the surrounding ecosystem.

  • @JayForsure

    @JayForsure

    Жыл бұрын

    The problem is, why would a company make all the investments, take all the risks but without control of the company or profits, that could deter companies from even investing. But also the problem is that they HAVE to get started!! The technology of batteries are quickly advancing, they're already testing batteries that use salt and sand or sodium and sulfur.

  • @bikesarebest

    @bikesarebest

    Жыл бұрын

    @@JayForsure Chile assumes a lot of risk as well. Environmental degradation and other externalities will be imposed on the Chilean people, it's the right thing to do for Chile to take a fair share of the profits. Also, if you're saying that lithium won't last forever, that's a stronger reason to not grow it too much and depend on it too much, you want to avoid the Dutch disease. If Chile becomes too reliant on the rents of lithium, then they will be devastated when the price falls.

  • @RDKirbyN

    @RDKirbyN

    Жыл бұрын

    But hey, as long as line-goes-up, right?

  • @JayForsure

    @JayForsure

    Жыл бұрын

    @@bikesarebest Well environmental/other external issues like safety of workers are solved by rules and regulations. That's what politicians do without taking an actual stake or a percentage in the companies. Imagine if a German producer of bread wanted to set up his company in the US, the government has FDA rules that, that company has to follow, but you don't see the government or the FDA take a percentage of the company lol. Also, my point was that they should take advantage of such high lithium prices and have them invest very little and have other companies invest a lot and start producing as much as they can BEFORE prices fall.

  • @Svetlana13231

    @Svetlana13231

    Жыл бұрын

    You nailed it!

  • @RDKirbyN
    @RDKirbyN Жыл бұрын

    I for one welcome the re-emergence of the Southern Cone. Hopefully they don't get CIA-Pinochet'd again.

  • @ilovesheryterry

    @ilovesheryterry

    11 ай бұрын

    It’s not how you think it is, and btw, i veer to the left

  • @guruxara7994

    @guruxara7994

    11 ай бұрын

    Chile should join Mercosur and protect/industrialize its resources, together these countries would have a large portion of the World's main commodities.

  • @ilovesheryterry

    @ilovesheryterry

    11 ай бұрын

    @@guruxara7994 Mercosur is a joke. Even our most self respecting left leaders know that. Chile stays out of that circus as much as possible.

  • @guruxara7994

    @guruxara7994

    11 ай бұрын

    @@ilovesheryterry Chile is still in a circus, the difference is that they are the animals, not the owners.

  • @ilovesheryterry

    @ilovesheryterry

    11 ай бұрын

    @@guruxara7994 do you really believe in the Mercosur? 😂 and that they're better of in Argentina or Brazil than us here?

  • @ruidos38
    @ruidos3811 ай бұрын

    I just hope that lithium allows Chile to get out of underdevelopment and that the opportunities that this country deserves are created. We are tired of only a few families living like Europeans or North Americans, decades ago we should have done something with copper and it was not done. I hope that this time lithium will add value. our rulers and legislators have made this country the cradle of political favors and have forgotten the people who for generations have expected radical changes in Chile

  • @Arcadax
    @Arcadax Жыл бұрын

    Chile has so many crucial minerals! Just hope that these resources can lead Chilean to a better life, they should own the major part of profit from it

  • @donaldkasper8346

    @donaldkasper8346

    Жыл бұрын

    Sure. They can develop all the tech and build everything for themselves and have all the money from the mines. Just a few trillion in tech investment and chemical engineering should do it.

  • @walktip

    @walktip

    Жыл бұрын

    It's a private business

  • @Erin-dw9vx

    @Erin-dw9vx

    Жыл бұрын

    Your idea is good, who do you think is responsible for a good building and a free building that benefits people

  • @misterasterisco5217

    @misterasterisco5217

    Жыл бұрын

    Since the start of the dictatorship of Pinochet, our resoucers were forcefully put in the hands of mostly ango american big companies. The gringa in this video complains that they pay too much tax ha ha... How they miss the good ol pinochet days for stealing from us.

  • @d90j

    @d90j

    11 ай бұрын

    @@deanhend1235 the US already did their “peace” job in Chile in 1973 😅

  • @derred723
    @derred723 Жыл бұрын

    Seems like they are looking out for the people over corporations. In that i'm all for it.

  • @Agustin_R
    @Agustin_R Жыл бұрын

    Excelent report. Interesting and well informed. Well done! Saludos de Chile 🇨🇱

  • @Ayo22210
    @Ayo22210 Жыл бұрын

    Everyone is trying to loot is all I learned in this video

  • @azabachezapata6816

    @azabachezapata6816

    Жыл бұрын

    EXACTLY

  • @tuffytoys9707
    @tuffytoys9707 Жыл бұрын

    What is surprising is that those politicians that only see dollar signs say that the supply of Lithium in Chile is "Limitless". There will come a day when the Land will become totally barren and no more Lithium will be available for mining but the politicians don't care and only want to push their agenda.

  • @whatinthefuckisgoingon

    @whatinthefuckisgoingon

    Жыл бұрын

    They can push all they want, I'm not buying an ev. Lol

  • @Brommear

    @Brommear

    Жыл бұрын

    The Atacama is pretty barren without lithium mining anyway.

  • @hugodiazgarcia1266
    @hugodiazgarcia1266 Жыл бұрын

    Congratulations for your excellent analysis on Chile`s lithium mining resources, related with the EVs booming industry.

  • @GjaP_242

    @GjaP_242

    Жыл бұрын

    Annual lithium demand is projected to reach roughly 1.5 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2025 and over 3 million tons by 2030. Global X ETFs But a 2022 analysis by the McKinsey Battery Insights team projects that the entire lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery chain, from mining through recycling, could grow by over 30 percent annually from 2022 to 2030, when it would reach a value of more than $400 billion and a market size of 4.7 TWh. [Global X ETFs; McKinsey] 12:34

  • @choco1490

    @choco1490

    Жыл бұрын

    @@GjaP_242 you think ppl will have money to buy those electric cars? 🤔

  • @GjaP_242

    @GjaP_242

    Жыл бұрын

    Xi Jinping Views Top EV-Battery Maker CATL With ‘Joy and Worry’ 1:23 [Bloomberg] China weighs extending EV tax break beyond 2023 [Nikkei Asia] 1:23 The China Dragon Roars Back Whether the US Likes It or Not 1:23 [Scheerpost]

  • @ronkirk5099
    @ronkirk5099 Жыл бұрын

    As Sodium-ion battery technology advances, it might take some of the pressure off Li resources and prevent some of the ecological damage mining it will cause. Iron-air batteries might do the same for grid scale, stationary battery applications to even out wind and solar green energy sources.

  • @TheBooban

    @TheBooban

    Жыл бұрын

    The environmental criticism makes zero sense. Water evaporation is a completely natural process and cleans the water. In this video they had no evidence of any damage.

  • @hs5312

    @hs5312

    Жыл бұрын

    Why does the grid need batteries, just run most of the grid off nuclear. Use batteries for vehicles and home storage

  • @avyam7509

    @avyam7509

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@TheBoobanIt uses ground water dumbo. There will be scarcity of drinking water because of low water levels and polluted water.

  • @noobasaurus11

    @noobasaurus11

    Жыл бұрын

    @@hs5312 Not every one and their grandma has access to nuclear tech.

  • @hs5312

    @hs5312

    Жыл бұрын

    @@noobasaurus11 the companies that run the power grid have access to nuclear tech. I said run the grid off nuclear. WTF were you reading

  • @mahmga1
    @mahmga1 Жыл бұрын

    These pieces are truly great, good to have added here.

  • @anthonycatania5613
    @anthonycatania5613 Жыл бұрын

    Wouldn't there be a good argument made that taking the Salt water from under the earth and having Fresh water Evaporate into the air would actually increase the chances they might get some rain outside the salt flats when the water cools off over greener pastures?

  • @yatox8

    @yatox8

    Жыл бұрын

    If it was that simple, it would be done everywhere. There's so many factors in meteorology and control over it something humans don't have now.

  • @shapshooter7769

    @shapshooter7769

    Жыл бұрын

    All it takes are winds to blow the clouds elsewhere, and the groundwater is now less plentiful and brinier. Again, complex systems.

  • @riodweber

    @riodweber

    Жыл бұрын

    @@shapshooter7769 rising tides lift all shift

  • @Napsteraspx

    @Napsteraspx

    Жыл бұрын

    Or they could build domes over the evaporation ponds to collect condensed freshwater.

  • @benhook1013

    @benhook1013

    Жыл бұрын

    People need to remember that ground water doesnt just magically appear, when underground resources are drained the surfacewater is reduced as it refills the aquafers.

  • @chaseofori-atta2225
    @chaseofori-atta22259 ай бұрын

    Chile is the best place to retrieve lithium. -The Ofori-Atta Family

  • @isaacl6402
    @isaacl6402 Жыл бұрын

    This video came at a great time. I just put 25k into ALB because I think it is oversold. They seemed to be positioned extremely well to handle EV demand for the US and other countries

  • @xraylife

    @xraylife

    5 ай бұрын

    Memo: The price crashed no one wants EV's.

  • @mikekautz5953
    @mikekautz5953 Жыл бұрын

    There is NO way of knowing the harmful effects of these mines. I would say these areas are destroyed forever. It’s ridiculous how we expect to be able to destroy other places but not allow energy creation in the United States of America. This is a worse option than petroleum. These mines are functioning with petroleum power.

  • @rinowx5
    @rinowx5 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing. Thank you.

  • @Me-pz5by
    @Me-pz5by Жыл бұрын

    Well done and accurated information, 👍

  • @Gaspardrow
    @Gaspardrow Жыл бұрын

    As Chilean, I believe that if we don't take the opportunity, others will and the question that is, if not this, then what have Chile to offer to keep its living standards? Hardly anything other than minerals, we got to use them to empower other industries, but with so much talk and less action, I loose hopes here😅

  • @johnaugsburger6192
    @johnaugsburger6192 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks

  • @ab3000x
    @ab3000x Жыл бұрын

    Chile has nickel and the demand for nickel will only increase. The demand for lithium may not be what many "experts" believed it would be only a few years ago. The brine also has tremendous amounts of sodium (and bromine/bromide) and it too can be used in batteries. Sodium isn't worth very much compared to lithium because it is very common but as the demand for lithium goes down in the future (recycled batteries and new battery tech) and the demand for sodium goes up so will the price.

  • @Ninjaeule97

    @Ninjaeule97

    Жыл бұрын

    I expect that we will also have sodium ion batteries in the future. Sodium ion batteries have lower energy density but they are a lot cheaper to make once you devolp them in large quantities. So in application were you have more space for example as energy storage for rooftop solar they are preferable, as they are also saver in case of a failure.

  • @ab3000x

    @ab3000x

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Ninjaeule97 The first Sodium Ion battery equipped vehicles have already been made. I don't think any have been sold to the public yet.

  • @PP.Antartico-Chile

    @PP.Antartico-Chile

    Жыл бұрын

    Chile is one of the countries with the largest amount of "rare earths" in the world, which is why they are afraid that Chile will develop its own technology industry.

  • @marlinhowley9858
    @marlinhowley9858 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent report.

  • @PeterAJB
    @PeterAJB10 ай бұрын

    Making downstream products like batteries etc in Chile makes sense from their perspective. Chile has an advantage in reserves (as well as Nickel and Copper... almost all the battery metals). It should abuse that advantage as much as possible to grow jobs in the country. Aim for jobs, not money at this stage. I think nationalizations and public companies will feed corruption in the rest of the government and build a state that doesn't rely on its citizens for tax revenues but instead on an export oriented industry. This is what happens to petro states and is terrible for the citizens, like in Venezuela.

  • @damiencastillo6216
    @damiencastillo6216 Жыл бұрын

    I don't understand what the guy from Arteaga says when he says ".. that's not the way people used to do business". Half the economy of China is predicated on this principle. Is he saying China has been unsuccessful in wrangling multinational companies?? Good god.

  • @beatreuteler

    @beatreuteler

    Жыл бұрын

    I think he is talking about Europeans.

  • @RDKirbyN

    @RDKirbyN

    Жыл бұрын

    "think of the poor businesses :("

  • @stevensmith2078

    @stevensmith2078

    Жыл бұрын

    Are you saying Apple invests with Beijing? I don’t think so. Please clarify.

  • @cuba3433
    @cuba3433 Жыл бұрын

    Quisiera darle las gracias por este interesante video !.

  • @ianhesford
    @ianhesford Жыл бұрын

    Better batteries are being developed as we speak. Lithium will be looked back on as a temporary bridge allowing developement of other necessary aspects like more efficient motors, expanding markets and production methods etc.

  • @ShrKhAan

    @ShrKhAan

    Жыл бұрын

    Not sure about this, Li has the highest electronegativity on table, Li will always be the technology to defeat. Its like saying hydrocarbons are out of game for energy.

  • @gehrigornelas6317

    @gehrigornelas6317

    Жыл бұрын

    Even in the coming solid state batteries and other newer high capacity batteries still use Lithium. Sure sodium batteries are a thing, but a sodium battery will always have a lower energy density than a lithium battery of similar type.

  • @PabloOR
    @PabloOR10 ай бұрын

    Chile es el mejor país de Chile 🇨🇱

  • @snoopaka
    @snoopaka Жыл бұрын

    Excellent documentary!

  • @chiquita683

    @chiquita683

    Жыл бұрын

    Propaganda. No talk of the climate and environmental impact of those lithium pools

  • @kayokayo3644
    @kayokayo3644 Жыл бұрын

    Good report

  • @richardcampbell7255
    @richardcampbell7255 Жыл бұрын

    Best to take it slow and don’t give into greedy corporations who just mess everything up.

  • @NamekGregory
    @NamekGregory Жыл бұрын

    Always and everywhere the government has control on resources and the governments are on driving seat which drive the industries to flourishes or to fail. The government are good partners on every business even when they do not invest any capital. The government will get royalties and will get taxes. So Chile partnership on developing Lithium industry is business as usual, and the private investors or government investors who like the partnership must know the terms of partnership. Looks Chile is open for business as usual but private investors are not ready to accept deals, and this give a big opportunity for other competitor countries who compete to benefit from these type of partnering.

  • @Aphores

    @Aphores

    Жыл бұрын

    the real problem is that the goverment wants 51% of the stakes of any company involved in the extraction of lithium, that and the taxes makes over 70% of the profits for the goverment that wont invest anything in the bussines

  • @RDKirbyN

    @RDKirbyN

    Жыл бұрын

    Is that why China is becoming the next superpower? Neoliberalism failed. It's time to move on.

  • @NamekGregory

    @NamekGregory

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Aphores This is not problem for private investors, they are free to invest their money on other projects where they make profit more. The free trade is free trade. Then Chilean government and their peoples will develop their reserves with their capital or with other partners. The free market based on business as usual is open.

  • @nbkknlq
    @nbkknlq Жыл бұрын

    👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 go Chile 🇨🇱

  • @GjaP_242

    @GjaP_242

    Жыл бұрын

    Afghanistan reportedly sits on an estimated $1 trillion worth of rare earth minerals, including huge deposits of lithium. The Islamist rulers have banned the extraction and sale of lithium since reclaiming power in Afghanistan in August 2021 after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. 1:29 [The New Indian]

  • @GjaP_242

    @GjaP_242

    Жыл бұрын

    Chile is the second largest producer of lithium and holds the world's third largest reserves of the metal. Demand for lithium is expected to soar amid the transition to renewable energy around the world and the growth in electric vehicles that are powered by lithium batteries. 18:00 [CNBC]

  • @mikenewman4078
    @mikenewman4078 Жыл бұрын

    The incompetent laziness of these companies who choose to deliberately utilise 19th century technology is astounding. With a bit of care and decency the clean water from the extraction process can easily be returned to farmers and the environment. To do it properly is actually cheaper long term. The just refuse to lay the up front cost. Stand strong Chile.

  • @shapshooter7769

    @shapshooter7769

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes, but there's no arbitrage to be made and it ties up the investment into the Chilean people instead of the company. It ain't laziness.

  • @JohnDlugosz

    @JohnDlugosz

    Жыл бұрын

    How do you capture the water being evaporated over many acres of pond?

  • @philv2529
    @philv2529 Жыл бұрын

    11:21 to 11:25 "The U.S. has determined that it needs to have domestic battery..." take that out of context lol.

  • @Ninjaeule97
    @Ninjaeule97 Жыл бұрын

    If they are evaporating the water from the highly saline solution using the energy of the sun, why aren't they powering the pumps with solar panels?

  • @izaakbrummitt1992

    @izaakbrummitt1992

    Жыл бұрын

    Solar panel cost money, the sun does not.

  • @Ninjaeule97

    @Ninjaeule97

    Жыл бұрын

    @@izaakbrummitt1992 they are pumping water, probably with a diesel generator during the day. Might as well use solar panels instead so they don't have to pay for fuel.

  • @cedricm.8530

    @cedricm.8530

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm sure they might do that. These systems are pretty old already. Maybe they start using them now since it got so cheap now. + You need a lot of energy to activate the lithium in the brine. They will use solar cells for that in the future as well I'm sure.

  • @pepperonish

    @pepperonish

    Жыл бұрын

    A 20 horsepower pump that would be a small diesel trailer would be replaced by a solar powered pump that would require something like 2300 square feet of solar panels.

  • @Ninjaeule97

    @Ninjaeule97

    Жыл бұрын

    @@pepperonish no idea what square feet are( I use metric) but it seems to me like they got the place for it. Look at those huge water basins.

  • @philipb2134
    @philipb2134 Жыл бұрын

    If the lithium producers were to install a reverse-osmosis system to treat the raw brine, perhaps it could be worth t in letting them provide pure water to the local communities, and send the super-concentrated brine to evaporation pans where production cycles would be shortened.

  • @markotrieste

    @markotrieste

    Жыл бұрын

    I had the same thought, with boiling and steam recondensation. Wonder what technical problems I am missing...

  • @alodelore9597

    @alodelore9597

    Жыл бұрын

    I guess you are missing nothing, it's just cheaper to flood an area probably.

  • @javierRC82857

    @javierRC82857

    Жыл бұрын

    There are technical solutions (osmosis, thermal distillation), for the problem of water loss by evaporation and that is the great environmental barrier to open new tenders or approve the expansion of existing ones. But the industry is stagnant due to a political problem and we all know that all Chileans will be the most affected by their decisions.

  • @philipb2134

    @philipb2134

    Жыл бұрын

    @@javierRC82857 Postulating that ALL Chileans will be affected by [x] policy... is something of a stretch. Even a policy which proclaimed that every male child must be put to death, the Bible tells, failed.

  • @fgajardoe
    @fgajardoe Жыл бұрын

    "We didn't see a single electric car when we're there" To be fair, Chile several electric buses on its public transport system.

  • @williambarnebee40
    @williambarnebee40 Жыл бұрын

    They need to move to "ultrafiltration" like in Reversed Osmosis. Bring the water up, filter out then salts and then pump it back down.

  • @BladeRabbit
    @BladeRabbit Жыл бұрын

    Bit ironic that the companies are actually giving the local communities tons of money and its still ruining them.

  • @RDKirbyN

    @RDKirbyN

    Жыл бұрын

    Not good enough. The companies could be giving all their money to the communities that do the work and who it belongs to.

  • @francismarion6400

    @francismarion6400

    Жыл бұрын

    Venezuela tried that.

  • @rocolaurel2933
    @rocolaurel2933 Жыл бұрын

    Mientras China apuesta por dar valor agregado desde Chile otros esperan simplemente llevárselo como ha sido con el cobre, si esa lógica no cambia China tiene todas las de ganar y no solo en Latinoamerica. PD: No, no vote por este gobierno de aprendices (Boric) pero con respecto a la matriz productiva y exportadora es necesario avanzar.

  • @andyjohnson3790
    @andyjohnson3790 Жыл бұрын

    No matter how batteries of the future are made they will power electric motors and thats a key advantage. Because and movement of electrons from batteries will be able to turn the motor and will then not be 100% reliant on ine one batter technology. Plus metal are recyclable where its Impossible to recycle furl once it has been burned in an ICE vehicle.

  • @valenciawas
    @valenciawas Жыл бұрын

    Where can I translate this? I need to show this to my family and friends

  • @luisflores2962
    @luisflores2962 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing documentary

  • @miguelorellanasazo4160
    @miguelorellanasazo4160 Жыл бұрын

    Saludos desde Santiago de Chile 🇨🇱😎👍

  • @svOcelot
    @svOcelot11 ай бұрын

    Very well done, & very informative. Thank you.

  • @abrahan_meloyo
    @abrahan_meloyo Жыл бұрын

    Resign hake

  • @gfpunto
    @gfpunto Жыл бұрын

    I think we're already too late. And wait for the endless discussions to come. In a short time lithium will be less important, and maybe replaced with sodium batteries.

  • @beatreuteler

    @beatreuteler

    Жыл бұрын

    This is very unlikely, because even if Sodium makes its way up the latter, it will have a hard time to crack the Notebook computer and mobile phone market and in spite of wording inside the Video, these 2 applications together still outweigh Cars in global Lithium consumption. Not to speak about high end BEV applications who will stick to Lithium for longer regardless of lower cost alternatives until these leave their drawbacks behind.

  • @cmcm9266
    @cmcm9266 Жыл бұрын

    Good for Chile !

  • @DeathsGarden-oz9gg
    @DeathsGarden-oz9gg Жыл бұрын

    We need to use the new technology that's Ben made and under testing with great success. This one is about to not be testing but working for real this year it uses 98% less land and gets 10 to 20 times more lithium in 3 to 5 months rather then 18 to 24 months.

  • @PP.Antartico-Chile

    @PP.Antartico-Chile

    Жыл бұрын

    Fake news.

  • @yomajo
    @yomajo Жыл бұрын

    Make one about cobalt please ^^

  • @mikafiltenborg7572

    @mikafiltenborg7572

    Жыл бұрын

    Big, Oil use cobalt in gas refeinery

  • @clo9222
    @clo9222 Жыл бұрын

    All the indigenous in Atacama with money they accept the mining, don’t tell me they are against the miners, if they got money from that, they are happy and forget about the ecology or water for farming

  • @senzen2692
    @senzen2692 Жыл бұрын

    Boric's position seems very clear and forward looking, famously backwards Chilean companies and analysts may simply not understand it.

  • @samuelmorales2344

    @samuelmorales2344

    Жыл бұрын

    When has Latin America ever been forward-thinking?

  • @auro1986
    @auro1986 Жыл бұрын

    chile is on hot demand again

  • @ConsciousNexus47369
    @ConsciousNexus47369 Жыл бұрын

    SQM is a company I'd had planned to invest in the future but I didn't know about the other company Albemarle. I had plans to move to Chile but my plans changed.

  • @BoosterGOLD075

    @BoosterGOLD075

    Жыл бұрын

    Let me clarify things a bit about SQM: At its founding (1968), this 'private company' was created as a 'Mixed Mining Company' between individuals and the State of Chile (in other words, it was a state company after all) under the government of Don Eduardo Frei Montalva. It was conceived for the exploitation, processing and commercialization of potassium nitrate and specialty fertilizers such as iodine, potassium and lithium. In mid-1983, in the midst of the dictatorship, the company began its privatization (because according to them, it was not profitable for the country) which materialized in 1988 being 'sold' (given almost as a gift) to Pinochet's then son-in-law, Julio Ponce Lerou. Unfortunately, over time, SQM has been linked to many judicial problems of a political nature. It should be noted that the company in the 1st government of Piñera (in mid-2012), took over 100% of the lithium extraction, delivering only 7% of the profits to the state. Of said extraction, it was calculated that it would be close to 100 thousand tons for 20 years, at the end of 2022 it will exceed 140 thousand. There is still lithium ore left so that the current government, under the creation of a new state company (ENALI - Empresa Nacional Del Litio), can generate profits for the state and that not only private companies take everything that future sales can generate of the ore, either raw or refined... and even, as in batteries (if they come to create a company with private or state contributions, that manufactures them).

  • @k.t.5405

    @k.t.5405

    Жыл бұрын

    Awwww....

  • @adamrandall5967
    @adamrandall5967 Жыл бұрын

    Systematic Procrastination 🆚 The Flexible Capacitor 👁‍🗨 19:20

  • @timberwolfe1645
    @timberwolfe1645 Жыл бұрын

    It's AWESOME that a government can RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT. 75k cars is AMAZING for EV's. ALL of this mining for precious metals cost the Earth so much worse than Gas. Renewables should only be Nuclear Reactors. That would reduce needs for 89%. That's good enough to reduce emissions

  • @JanBruunAndersen

    @JanBruunAndersen

    Жыл бұрын

    75k cars is slightly less than what Tesla produces in 2 months.

  • @vrfamilia
    @vrfamilia Жыл бұрын

    Chile needs to accelerate this process as much as it can. The window will be short this time.

  • @DougGrinbergs
    @DougGrinbergs Жыл бұрын

    4:13 extraction process

  • @andresalderete
    @andresalderete Жыл бұрын

    Problem is not more e cars. The problem is politicians that want a big slide of money. No agreement, no investments authorized. Sadly chilean politicians see the small picture.

  • @colemartin7591
    @colemartin7591 Жыл бұрын

    I laughed out loud when she said that more research is needed. "More research is needed...", "It's an open question..." was also said by the tobacco, oil, and sugar industries.

  • @spacemonk26
    @spacemonk26 Жыл бұрын

    That's cool that the Chilean people seem like they are better off just chilling in their sunshine than making a bunch of money off of mines. There is probably fierce demand for that land from large businesses so I'm sure they will try to influence the situation however they can to make money out there. One thing I would be concerned about is the urban populations a lot of mines will create based on unsustainable resource extraction practices, you got to take care of that additional population after the mines dry out may be better in the long run to just go slowly with it. I wonder how bad their problems are with poverty and homelessness now, like do they actually need the tax money to immediately fix that? I was waiting for the journalist to interview someone who represents the ghetto about it

  • @manse8039

    @manse8039

    Жыл бұрын

    the problems is: the pubic companies here in Chile are highly inefficient. CODELCO tis the main copper mining company dependent from the government of Chile was created after Salvador Allende nationalized the copper mines in the 70's, now is highly in debt due to bad business practices, they sold hundred of thousands of tons of coper to China for 10 years at a price of 1.5 dollars when the market prices was of 3 dollars. this year CODELCO decreased the amount that contributed to the Chilean government to a mere 2 B of dollars a year, while one of the smaller America mining companies working in Chile paid 6B dollars in taxes and royalties. all public companies in Chile are highly inefficient, unions are really important and they get rich bonuses even if the company is lost money, a lot of his directors of this companies are in the position just because they are collaborators of the party that the president belongs, the corruption is HIG!. nothing comparted with developed countries. as an example, the indigenous communities never had a voice in the implementation of this new plan by the government, the politician talk to gain the votes, the company that produces most pollution in the country is a public one: CODELCO nobody can sue them because they are from the government.

  • @ShrKhAan
    @ShrKhAan Жыл бұрын

    Proper made Li batteries are to be sold everywhere these days, the fabrication process might be bought, professionals to handle the production are plenty on the country. You probably just need a handful of engineers to understand the basic chemical process and the process of producing large scale, high quality Li ion baterries. Politics and decisions are another stuff..

  • @TheGreatOne428
    @TheGreatOne428 Жыл бұрын

    Does this explain the recent price drop in Albemarle and SQM ?

  • @robertojofre15

    @robertojofre15

    Жыл бұрын

    yes

  • @nachoetchart1

    @nachoetchart1

    Жыл бұрын

    The main contract expires in 2030. The goverment is taking control in any case, so yes. SQM’s liberty has its days counted.

  • @paulstandaert5709
    @paulstandaert5709 Жыл бұрын

    It's ironic how people complain about wars being fought over oil, and now it is looking like wars will be fought over lithium and cobalt and... ????

  • @PP.Antartico-Chile
    @PP.Antartico-Chile Жыл бұрын

    La decisión es de ustedes gringos, Chile no necesita tener un parque automotriz eléctrico para garantizar un mercado interno de baterías de litio porque ese mercado interno lo absorbe con creces la industria minera del cobre. Si ustedes construyen una planta de fabricación de baterías de litio en Chile ganamos todos. Si ustedes siguen con su mentalidad de impedir el desarrollo industrial y tecnológico en Chile lo harán los chinos y Chile ganará igual pero ustedes llorarán.

  • @sombut415
    @sombut415 Жыл бұрын

    🙏

  • @ronliebermann
    @ronliebermann Жыл бұрын

    America has a lot of Lithium which can be mined. The Lithium deal with Chile has to do with intellectual property law throughout South America. Most people don’t know that U.S. foreign aid has strings attached. Any country that wants money from America has to sign the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and enforce it by arresting people who make copies of movies or songs; or any other violations. The American taxpayer is being used to purchase foreign governments, on behalf of private interests. Apple, Sony, and the Federal government are the beneficiaries of copyright law. Not the taxpayers. They get screwed twice. They pay to create copyright law, and then they pay for permission to view copyrighted movies. It’s a great hustle.

  • @gsan1305
    @gsan1305 Жыл бұрын

    So weird that they used diesel engines to power the pumps, why don’t they use batteries? Lithium batteries charged with all that sun…

  • @perlesvausss
    @perlesvausss Жыл бұрын

    Among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Chile is one of the most unequal countries. It is estimated that the richest 1% captures 17% of the total tax revenue, while the wealthiest 10% receives over 50% of all income. Private companies are stealing our resources and making a profit from them. They will use all means of pressure they know, from political instability to financial bullying.

  • @anderoria1893

    @anderoria1893

    Жыл бұрын

    kzread.info/dash/bejne/l6CHpK-QoKq2p9o.html

  • @causeitsthere
    @causeitsthere Жыл бұрын

    So the sun bakes that water contained with harmful metals. Right into the atmosphere from all humans and animals to breathe. Good job, sounds sooo green and clean. Farce

  • @joseaguirr3
    @joseaguirr3 Жыл бұрын

    Se expresa muy bien la señora

  • @hektoriuz
    @hektoriuz Жыл бұрын

    Argentina's lithium deposits are immense.

  • @quantumcomata105
    @quantumcomata105 Жыл бұрын

    Let us take it to the ball court ⚽️ 🏀 🏈. The winner 🥇 gets their way. The looser gets to keep the head of the winner as a consolation. ~Q'uq'kumatz

  • @udit2622
    @udit2622 Жыл бұрын

    Chile has Lithium, But American companies are extracting lithium.😮

  • @nirajshrestha5621

    @nirajshrestha5621

    Жыл бұрын

    That is the problem Chile should not make any deal with usa. Chile won't get any profits, everything goes to usa company and usa government.

  • @Agustin_R

    @Agustin_R

    Жыл бұрын

    85% of the extraction is in possession of the Chilean company SQM while only 15% is on Albemarle, the USA company. And the woman from Albemarle said that in Chile they pay higher taxes than in any other country

  • @krmunoz2169

    @krmunoz2169

    11 ай бұрын

    That's the thinking that makes a lot of poor countries sit on their prime material and not extract at all, losing the whole market. Extracting materials means tons of spending and a lot of technology that most countries simply don't have.

  • @EduardoRodriguez-mu3sy
    @EduardoRodriguez-mu3sy Жыл бұрын

    They always find 1 or 2 indigenous people to say that there are communities living in the middle of the desert and that they won't be able to love because a project like this

  • @Suomencita
    @Suomencita Жыл бұрын

    Now it turns out that Chile wanting to protect their interests is a “crossroad” and worrying, nah fam, we good. Do it cleanly, pay what’s due and you all can do business with Chile, not so complicated.

  • @robdlt3259
    @robdlt3259 Жыл бұрын

    is this CNBC or Vox? I believe I recognize her voice from there? 😅 it's not her, but it kinda sounds like her

  • @jeffery1855
    @jeffery1855 Жыл бұрын

    It's unfortunate I can't invest into Chile as a private investor (of the public market)

  • @PP.Antartico-Chile

    @PP.Antartico-Chile

    Жыл бұрын

    You will be able to invest in the construction of a battery manufacturing plant when the uuss or china decide to start manufacturing batteries in Chile.

  • @krmunoz2169

    @krmunoz2169

    11 ай бұрын

    Stocks: NYSE: ALB and NYSE: SQM

  • @juanfis
    @juanfis11 ай бұрын

    We are the best country of Chile

  • @paulkurilecz4209
    @paulkurilecz4209 Жыл бұрын

    Did I hear correctly that the mine produces enough Lithium for about 70,000 EV per year? Are you aware that the US alone produces over twelve million passenger cars and light trucks per year?

  • @EVGuiller
    @EVGuiller8 ай бұрын

    It’s not nationalization but a strong effort of protecting your resources instead of losing control and sell out to companies. That region of Chile has important natural resources that are at risk should development and mining expand.

  • @michaelriecher5632
    @michaelriecher5632 Жыл бұрын

    Chile better get while the getting is good. There’s a good chance that lithium won’t be used in EVs in the future.

  • @hs5312

    @hs5312

    Жыл бұрын

    I hope they don’t too salty about it

  • @guruxara7994

    @guruxara7994

    11 ай бұрын

    Chile has a lot of copper too.

  • @JavoCover
    @JavoCover11 ай бұрын

    FYI, Chile doesn't have a Tesla dealer, the electrical infrastructure is not prepared yet so mass vehicle adoption is going to wait.

  • @AngelGabriel-yh5pk
    @AngelGabriel-yh5pk Жыл бұрын

    How many communities has it affected

  • @pauleohl
    @pauleohl Жыл бұрын

    It seems to me that evaporating brine would put more moisture into the air and be only beneficial to the local desert environment.

  • @Agustin_R

    @Agustin_R

    Жыл бұрын

    Because of wind, atmospheric pressure, the presence of Cordillera de Los Andes, temperature and local humidity, water evaporation won’t impact rains significantly. Desierto de Atacama has been one of the dryest places of the world for centuries due to geographic factors, with some zones having 0 millimeters of rain in the last 300 yers

  • @claudiobv01

    @claudiobv01

    11 ай бұрын

    Source: trust me bro.

  • @GjaP_242
    @GjaP_242 Жыл бұрын

    Lithium is a chemical element and key component of electric vehicle (EV) batteries that's also known by another name: “white gold.” That's because in a future powered by batteries, from our electric cars to our smartphones, lithium is quickly becoming the most valuable commodity on the planet. Lithium is integral to the realization of decarbonization goals and the sustainable future that is being built around the world. Already omnipresent in consumer electronics, lithium-ion batteries are powering electric vehicles and being used as energy storage for renewables. 2:34 [EnergyX; Popular Mechanics]

  • @A3Kr0n
    @A3Kr0n Жыл бұрын

    Lithium mining has an uphill battle with over 62 million passenger vehicles sold in 2020 alone. It looks like it's dependent on fossil fuel, too, for a lot of the processing and transportation.

  • @gehrigornelas6317

    @gehrigornelas6317

    Жыл бұрын

    That will shift as more evs get built out.

  • @Arthurlabreu
    @Arthurlabreu Жыл бұрын

    "The price is sky rocketing" Said MR Wir Wilson after a 60% price drop in 5 months

  • @user-ve2bv4in2r
    @user-ve2bv4in2r Жыл бұрын

    I am in Texas USA and have a energy company who wants to lease 87 acres for lithium mining. Imagine that. Can there be lithium in texas?

  • @patriciocordova449
    @patriciocordova449 Жыл бұрын

    Great story, I’d like to believe it has no agenda but you know it’s CNBC….

  • @vaderjohnson1525
    @vaderjohnson1525 Жыл бұрын

    An important share of our public transportation (Buses) in Santiago are EVs. So it's weird that "you didn't see any EVs" during your visit. Buses are everywhere

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