{"id":10060,"date":"2017-04-13T13:55:23","date_gmt":"2017-04-13T16:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.amchamchile.cl\/?p=150420"},"modified":"2017-05-03T15:53:42","modified_gmt":"2017-05-03T18:53:42","slug":"litio-el-desafio-de-generar-una-nueva-industria-2","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/amchamchile.cl\/en\/noticia\/litio-el-desafio-de-generar-una-nueva-industria-2\/","title":{"rendered":"[:es]Litio: el desaf\u00edo de generar una nueva industria[:en]Lithium: the challenge of creating a new industry[:]"},"content":{"rendered":"

[:es]
\nLas energ\u00edas renovables y la movilidad el\u00e9ctrica est\u00e1n impulsando su demanda. Si Chile no avanza, podr\u00eda perder la oportunidad de ser el l\u00edder mundial. \u00bfRetos? Pasar de exportar materia prima a productos sofisticados sin dejar de lado la producci\u00f3n, refinamiento del mineral y la incorporaci\u00f3n de nuevas tecnolog\u00edas y capital humano preparado.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chile tiene los mejores yacimientos de litio del mundo en t\u00e9rminos de concentraci\u00f3n y condiciones ambientales en la Regi\u00f3n de Atacama, posee 50% de las reservas mundiales del mineral y es el l\u00edder mundial en producci\u00f3n del \u201coro blanco\u201d, como tambi\u00e9n se le conoce, pero as\u00ed y todo, no ha logrado desarrollar una industria como la del cobre.<\/p>\n

El pa\u00eds tiene un enorme potencial, pero si no se sube al carro hoy, podr\u00eda quedarse fuera del aumento exponencial de la demanda mundial, empujada principalmente por los autos el\u00e9ctricos y las Energ\u00edas Renovables (ER) que requieren del mineral para las bater\u00edas y sistemas de almacenamiento.<\/p>\n

El problema, es que Chile produce principalmente carbonato de litio y en menor medida, hidr\u00f3xido de litio, que es el que se requiere para el almacenamiento de energ\u00eda, que es m\u00e1s puro y, por lo mismo, m\u00e1s costoso de producir, pero que logra un mejor precio.<\/p>\n

En enero de 2015 la Comisi\u00f3n Nacional del Litio (CNL) elabor\u00f3 un diagn\u00f3stico para una nueva pol\u00edtica del litio y gobernanza de los salares, que fue lanzada en enero 2016 por la presidenta Michelle Bachelet. Esto dio pie para el surgimiento de alianzas entre el Gobierno, sector privado y academia, con el fin de dotar de mayor valor agregado a la industria, para avanzar en grados de pureza y productos m\u00e1s sofisticados.<\/p>\n

Conocedores de la industria no dudan que es esa la apuesta a seguir, el impacto econ\u00f3mico puede ser significativo y el desarrollo de nuevas tecnolog\u00edas, de atracci\u00f3n de centros de investigaci\u00f3n y cient\u00edficos, son una pieza clave hacia el posicionamiento futuro.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Escenario de demanda<\/strong><\/p>\n

Desde hace unos a\u00f1os, la demanda por litio es empujada por la circulaci\u00f3n de autos el\u00e9ctricos y veh\u00edculos h\u00edbridos que necesitan bater\u00edas de este mineral para su movilidad en Estados Unidos, Europa y Asia, respondiendo adem\u00e1s a normas medioambientales y consumidores cada vez m\u00e1s conscientes del cambio clim\u00e1tico.<\/p>\n

Hoy, este tipo de transporte -que no alcanza el mill\u00f3n de unidades en el mundo- podr\u00eda elevarse explosivamente hasta incluso 40 millones de veh\u00edculos a 2035, impulsando que la producci\u00f3n mundial de litio pase de 180.000 toneladas en 2016 a superar el mill\u00f3n de toneladas a esa fecha, seg\u00fan datos de Corfo.<\/p>\n

De hecho, la estadounidense Tesla ha declarado que tiene la meta de producir 500 mil veh\u00edculos de este tipo al a\u00f1o a 2025, China pondr\u00e1 en circulaci\u00f3n tres millones de autos el\u00e9ctricos.<\/p>\n

Pero el impulso tambi\u00e9n vendr\u00e1 de la demanda del mineral para bater\u00edas estacionarias con el crecimiento de las Energ\u00edas Renovables, sobre todo en los pa\u00edses desarrollados, donde ya empiezan a tener una participaci\u00f3n importante en sus matrices energ\u00e9ticas.<\/p>\n

Seg\u00fan el informe de la CNL, a 2025 la demanda de \u201coro blanco\u201d se elevar\u00e1 8% anual, es decir, se demandar\u00e1n en total 350.000 a 400.000 toneladas de litio equivalente en ocho a\u00f1os. Adem\u00e1s,\u00a0 la industria de las bater\u00edas aumentar\u00e1 significativamente su participaci\u00f3n en el consumo de litio, al pasar de 40% en 2014 a\u00a0 63% de la demanda, aproximadamente, en 2025.<\/p>\n

Este documento tambi\u00e9n recalca que las nuevas tecnolog\u00edas de bater\u00edas requerir\u00e1n en mayor medida de hidr\u00f3xido de litio por sobre carbonato de litio, lo que aumentar\u00eda la participaci\u00f3n de este compuesto dentro del total, pasando de 19% a cerca de 31% al mismo plazo.<\/p>\n

Este aspecto es clave, pues 89,4% del mineral que exporta Chile corresponde a carbonato de litio, mientras el hidr\u00f3xido de litio representa 6,9% seg\u00fan el Anuario de la Miner\u00eda 2015 de Sernageomin del Ministerio de Miner\u00eda; de la mano de los actores, la chilena SQM y Rockwood Lithium, filial de la estadounidense Albemarle.<\/p>\n

En ese sentido, el ex secretario ejecutivo de la CNL y consultor minero, Ignacio Moreno, coincide con esta tendencia alcista y proyecta que 80% de la demanda del mineral a 2035 ser\u00e1 espec\u00edficamente para bater\u00edas de autos.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hoy, la industria de bater\u00edas crece m\u00e1s de 10% por a\u00f1o y podr\u00eda hacerlo a tasas entre 15% y 18% en los pr\u00f3ximos a\u00f1os impulsando la b\u00fasqueda de nuevos yacimientos, comenta Daniela Desormeaux, consultora de signumBOX.<\/p>\n

A lo anterior se suma que el mercado del litio se duplicar\u00eda en seis o siete a\u00f1os m\u00e1s suponiendo que la producci\u00f3n crecer\u00e1 con fuerza por la demanda de bater\u00edas de litio, proyecta Moreno.<\/p>\n

Eduardo Bitran, vicepresidente ejecutivo de Corfo, se\u00f1ala que hoy el mercado mundial de carbonato de litio moviliza 180.000 toneladas de este mineral, con un precio de US$ 7.000\/ton en promedio, no obstante, proyecta que a 2035 se producir\u00edan un mill\u00f3n de toneladas de litio en el mundo, con valores que podr\u00edan llegar a US$ 10.000\/ton en promedio, seg\u00fan el valor agregado que se logre dar.<\/p>\n

De ah\u00ed que los desaf\u00edos de una industria 2.0 de litio impliquen la producci\u00f3n de hidr\u00f3xido de litio, cuya demanda ya superar\u00e1 a la de carbonato de litio en 2027, debido a sus mejores propiedades para la fabricaci\u00f3n de pilas, as\u00ed como por una b\u00fasqueda por dar mayor valor agregado.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Las primeras alianzas<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

La mayor\u00eda de los actores coinciden en que la mejor forma de desarrollar una industria en torno al litio es a trav\u00e9s de consorcios que involucren a los sectores p\u00fablico y privado, y a la academia.<\/p>\n

En 2014, el Centro de Innovaci\u00f3n del Litio (CIL) de la Universidad de Chile fabric\u00f3 Elibatt 4.0, la primera bater\u00eda nacional tanto para dispositivos como para ER. El proyecto cont\u00f3 con la colaboraci\u00f3n de universidades y de empresas, e incluso, se proyect\u00f3 la instalaci\u00f3n de una f\u00e1brica en 2015, pero no prosper\u00f3. Jaime Al\u00e9e, director del CIL en ese entonces, explica que el modelo de negocio no fue lo suficientemente atractivo para levantar capital. No obstante, plantea que lo que se requiere es profundizar en la relaci\u00f3n universidad-empresa y en traer al pa\u00eds industria sofisticada que tenga inter\u00e9s en el rubro, como Gyga Factory de Tesla.<\/p>\n

Tambi\u00e9n han surgido otras alianzas, como la de la chilena Nanotec y Rockwood Lithium que est\u00e1n desarrollando nanopart\u00edculas del mineral, investigaciones que seg\u00fan Patricio Jarpa, gerente general de Nanotec, est\u00e1n bastante avanzadas, pues crearon las primeras nanopart\u00edculas de litio met\u00e1lico con alta pureza y buenas condiciones de tama\u00f1o y propiedades f\u00edsicas. Las primeras muestras se est\u00e1n testeando en Alemania, Corea del Sur y Estados Unidos, y est\u00e1n a la espera de los resultados.<\/p>\n

\u201cUna bater\u00eda para dispositivos como celulares y transporte que tenga nanolitios va a ser m\u00e1s atractiva, porque estas part\u00edculas m\u00e1s peque\u00f1as son m\u00e1s reactivas y lo que pretendemos es que permita que la bater\u00eda dure m\u00e1s tiempo (tres o cuatro a\u00f1os). A la vez, estamos buscando que las bater\u00edas se recarguen m\u00e1s r\u00e1pido\u201d, explica Patricio Jarpa.<\/p>\n

Siguiendo los pasos de los acad\u00e9micos de la Universidad de Chile, Mario Gr\u00e1geda, director del Centro de Investigaci\u00f3n Avanzada del Litio y Minerales Industriales,\u00a0CELiMIN, de la Universidad de Antofagasta, lidera un proyecto financiado por el Fondo de Fomento al Desarrollo Cient\u00edfico y Tecnol\u00f3gico (FONDEF) de Conicyt que aport\u00f3 $ 140 millones para fabricar una bater\u00eda de 10 amperes de capacidad para dispositivos m\u00f3viles port\u00e1tiles e incluso para bicicletas el\u00e9ctricas.<\/p>\n

Actualmente, trabajan en la fabricaci\u00f3n de un prototipo de bater\u00eda ion litio, empleando compuestos del litio del Salar de Atacama para desarrollar nuevos materiales con mayor capacidad de carga y estabilidad t\u00e9rmica, siendo el c\u00e1todo el elemento m\u00e1s importante. El prototipo podr\u00eda ser utilizado en cualquier dispositivo electr\u00f3nico port\u00e1til como un tel\u00e9fono celular o un computador personal, y el modelo final y funcional estar\u00eda para fines del a\u00f1o 2018.<\/p>\n

El centro tambi\u00e9n trabaja en desarrollar nuevos materiales activos cat\u00f3dicos a partir de compuestos del litio, con miras a hacer los procesos m\u00e1s amigables con el medio ambiente. Dentro de estas tecnolog\u00edas, est\u00e1 justamente pasar directamente de la salmuera a hidr\u00f3xido de litio usando un sistema electroqu\u00edmico innovador.<\/p>\n

Por otro lado, la Universidad Cat\u00f3lica (UC) en alianza con Rockwood junto a Argonne National Laboratory, estudia un nuevo carbonato de litio que impacte en la capacidad de almacenaje y alargue el ciclo de vida de las bater\u00edas. El reto, explica Ren\u00e9 Rojas, acad\u00e9mico de la Facultad de Qu\u00edmica de la UC y l\u00edder del proyecto, es introducir materiales para c\u00e1todos, proceso que requiere de minerales como manganeso, cobalto y n\u00edquel, presentes en la miner\u00eda del pa\u00eds.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

El impulso p\u00fablico<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Eduardo Bitran, vicepresidente ejecutivo de Corfo, destaca que a finales de marzo se realiz\u00f3 la convocatoria internacional para empresas que est\u00e1n en el \u00e1rea de valor agregado del litio a presentar\u00a0 formalmente su intenci\u00f3n de instalarse en Chile, ya sea en la l\u00ednea de la electro movilidad (bater\u00edas y componentes) o para otras l\u00edneas de uso como aplicaciones qu\u00edmicas o para bater\u00edas de celulares.<\/p>\n

Corfo evaluar\u00e1 las propuestas a fines de agosto, dejar\u00e1 una lista corta y dentro de septiembre se informar\u00e1 cu\u00e1les son las precalificadas, las que contar\u00e1n con 90 d\u00edas para entregar una oferta vinculante. Ser\u00e1n 16.000 toneladas al a\u00f1o de producci\u00f3n de carbonato de litio equivalente que estar\u00e1n disponibles a precios preferenciales.<\/p>\n

\u201cHemos hecho prospectiva tecnol\u00f3gica y entendemos que lo m\u00e1s probable, aunque no excluimos otras posibilidades, es que ciertos componentes de bater\u00edas, como son los c\u00e1todos, electrolitos, que tienen un alto contenido de carbonato e hidr\u00f3xido de litio sean los primeros candidatos a ser producidos en Chile\u201d, apuesta Bitran.<\/p>\n

En esta l\u00ednea, la multinacional Rockwood ha sido proactiva en aumentar la producci\u00f3n y aportar con valor agregado, esto porque el acuerdo firmado en enero pasado con Corfo por un plazo m\u00e1ximo de 27 a\u00f1os le permitir\u00e1 crecer de 24.000 ton\/a\u00f1o hasta 82.000 ton\/a\u00f1o,\u00a0 y tener\u00a0 una nueva cuota de litio met\u00e1lico equivalente hasta un m\u00e1ximo de 262.132 toneladas, la que deber\u00e1 explotarse en estricto apego a la Resoluci\u00f3n de Calificaci\u00f3n Ambiental (RCA) vigente y a los permisos de la Comisi\u00f3n Chilena de Energ\u00eda Nuclear (CChEN).<\/p>\n

Rockwood, adem\u00e1s, tiene la opci\u00f3n -v\u00eda acuerdo- de construir una tercera planta de hidr\u00f3xido de litio grado bater\u00eda para producir 5.000 toneladas, con una cuota adicional de 34.776 ton\/ de litio met\u00e1lico equivalente, lo que le permitir\u00eda hacer frente a la demanda proyectada de este compuesto del mineral, la que superar\u00e1 al carbonato de litio.<\/p>\n

El acuerdo implicar\u00e1, entonces, que la firma estadounidense destine hasta 25% de la producci\u00f3n total para ser comercializada a empresas extranjeras a precios preferentes -considerando la paridad m\u00e1s baja de los \u00faltimos seis meses- que se comprometan a instalarse en Chile para producir derivados del litio con valor agregado.<\/p>\n

C\u00e9sar Jil, gerente de extracci\u00f3n de litio de Albemarle Corporation, sostiene que este acuerdo \u201cpondr\u00e1 a Antofagasta en el epicentro de la producci\u00f3n de litio en el mundo, desarrollando una industria con valor agregado, la cual estamos seguros, pondr\u00e1 a la regi\u00f3n a la vanguardia del desarrollo tecnol\u00f3gico\u201d.<\/p>\n

La idea es que la segunda planta de litio de Rockwood se levante en el anunciado parque simbi\u00f3tico que el Gobierno planea instalar al lado de centrales solares en el norte del pa\u00eds, en el marco de la ambiciosa agenda que se est\u00e1 construyendo para aprovechar las condiciones naturales del Desierto de Atacama y as\u00ed transformar a Chile en un generador de energ\u00eda solar.<\/p>\n

Con el acuerdo se abre un polo de atracci\u00f3n hacia aquellos inversionistas internacionales que tengan la experiencia tecnol\u00f3gica que el pa\u00eds demanda.<\/p>\n

Si se aplican las mismas condiciones del acuerdo de Rockwood \u2013de aumento de la producci\u00f3n- al conjunto del salar, el incremento de los aportes a la sociedad chilena podr\u00eda superar los US$ 1.000 millones a 2035.<\/p>\n

\u201cDe acuerdo a los est\u00e1ndares de royalty<\/em> o de regal\u00edas o de aportes a la investigaci\u00f3n que se han estimado para Rockwood sobre la base de una producci\u00f3n total de todo el salar del orden de 380 mil toneladas al a\u00f1o y un precio de US$ 10.000 la tonelada, podr\u00edamos llegar a alrededor de US$ 900 millones de aporte adicional al Estado chileno por a\u00f1o, a 2035\u201d, cifra Bitran.<\/p>\n

C\u00e1lculos privados dan cuenta de nichos interesantes en los cuales hay espacio para crecer, sobre la base de elevar la pureza del carbonato de litio, por ejemplo, de 99,3% a un precio de referencia de\u00a0 US$ 7.000 por tonelada a 99,99% con un precio que alcanzar\u00eda a US$ 18.000 por tonelada, se\u00f1ala Mario Gr\u00e1geda.<\/p>\n

La m\u00e1xima pureza de carbonato de litio comercial producido en Chile es el grado bater\u00eda (99,50%), luego, \u00e9ste se env\u00eda a otros pa\u00edses como China donde se eleva su pureza hasta alcanzar el grado EV plus (99,99 % LC), apto para bater\u00edas de veh\u00edculos el\u00e9ctricos. Gr\u00e1geda afirma que la pureza de Chile no es suficiente para bater\u00edas de autos el\u00e9ctricos, ya que afectar\u00eda el rendimiento de la capacidad de carga para competir con los mejores fabricantes.<\/p>\n

El convenio entre Rockwood y Corfo incluye un aporte unilateral de hasta US$ 12,4 millones destinado a I+D en el pa\u00eds, orientados al desarrollo del potencial minero y solar del norte de Chile.<\/p>\n

Para Desormeaux, una industria m\u00e1s desarrollada ofrece externalidades positivas en innovaci\u00f3n como tener cient\u00edficos en Chile que se preparen,\u00a0 y la creaci\u00f3n de clusters, industrias y tecnolog\u00edas.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Producci\u00f3n y competitividad<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Para los actores, otro aspecto que no hay que perder de vista, es mejorar los procesos productivos de compuestos de litio, como para lograr un mineral con mayor pureza y m\u00e1s sustentable.<\/p>\n

En esta l\u00ednea, el actor local SQM comenta que han materializado un significativo desarrollo tecnol\u00f3gico, tanto para conocer el recurso minero, como para desarrollar los procesos productivos. Ello adem\u00e1s de haber invertido m\u00e1s de US$ 1.700 millones en el desarrollo productivo y tecnol\u00f3gico del Salar de Atacama.<\/p>\n

Destacan un aumento productivo a 13.500 toneladas de hidr\u00f3xido de litio, lo cual incluye la construcci\u00f3n de una nueva planta en la faena de Salar del Carmen (cercana a Antofagasta); proceso que la empresa estima deber\u00eda materializarse a fines de este a\u00f1o.<\/p>\n

Desormeaux explica que se est\u00e1n desarrollando tecnolog\u00edas alternativas para evitar la evaporaci\u00f3n o producir el hidr\u00f3xido de litio directamente desde la materia prima del salar (cloruro de litio y soluciones de salmueras), sin tener que pasar por el carbonato de litio que tiene un costo m\u00e1s elevado.<\/p>\n

Por otro lado, los actores coinciden en que otro aspecto que no pueden dejar de lado es mirar a sus competidores.<\/p>\n

Sobre el llamado \u201cTri\u00e1ngulo ABC\u201d (Argentina, Bolivia y Chile), el director de la Divisi\u00f3n de Qu\u00edmica e Ingenier\u00eda Qu\u00edmica en la estadounidense Argonne National Laboratory, Emilio Bunel, asegura que no han logrado hasta hoy aumentar el valor agregado del litio y solo se explota como un recurso natural frente a pa\u00edses como Asia o Am\u00e9rica del Norte que han logrado incorporarlo en la cadena de abastecimiento para fabricar bater\u00edas, tanto para autos el\u00e9ctricos, art\u00edculos electr\u00f3nicos o bater\u00edas para controlar y regular la red el\u00e9ctrica.<\/p>\n

En particular Argentina ha generado una sinergia entre el sector p\u00fablico, privado y la academia para producir bater\u00edas de litio y se proyecta que en 2018 inicie operaciones la primera f\u00e1brica de bater\u00edas de litio con el apoyo de la transandina YPF.<\/p>\n

En Bolivia, el Gobierno compr\u00f3 a China una planta para producir bater\u00edas de ion litio\u00a0\u00a0 para celulares y para autos el\u00e9ctricos. Por ahora, ellos s\u00f3lo ensamblan las bater\u00edas con productos que compran de Chile y\u00a0 todav\u00eda no fabrican bater\u00edas comerciales. \u201cSin duda est\u00e1n aprendiendo, pero a\u00fan no generan valor agregado en un producto desarrollado por ellos\u201d, repara Bunel.<\/p>\n

En Espa\u00f1a, el IK4-CIDETEC -alianza entre centros tecnol\u00f3gicos del Pa\u00eds Vasco- est\u00e1 enfocado en la fabricaci\u00f3n de bater\u00edas de ion litio, \u201ccompran todos los componentes y optimizan el ensamblado\u201d, apunta Gr\u00e1geda.<\/p>\n

En Estados Unidos tanto la academia, la industria y los laboratorios nacionales que dependen de Departamento de Energ\u00eda est\u00e1n avanzando en almacenaje de energ\u00eda y, al mismo tiempo,\u00a0el Gobierno impulsa proyectos de comercializaci\u00f3n y optimizaci\u00f3n de bater\u00edas de litio m\u00e1s convencionales.<\/p>\n

Como se ve, si bien los pa\u00edses desarrollados est\u00e1n avanzando en bater\u00edas, Chile, en particular, comienza a dar los primeros pasos en alianzas tripartitas que le permitir\u00e1n responder a las demandas mundiales de litio. Las oportunidades est\u00e1n a la vista, habr\u00e1 que sortear los retos de investigaci\u00f3n, nuevas tecnolog\u00edas y capital humano para delinear una nueva industria acorde a los tiempos.<\/p>\n

Un mineral \u201cno concesionable\u201d<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

En los \u00b480, el Gobierno cambi\u00f3 su legislaci\u00f3n minera y categoriz\u00f3 al litio como \u201cno concesionable\u201d por considerarse \u201cestrat\u00e9gico\u201d, lo que significaba que s\u00f3lo pod\u00eda ser producido por el Estado o por empresas estatales como Codelco, due\u00f1a de 18% del Salar de Maricunga y de 100% del de Pedernales.<\/p>\n

Para algunos actores del rubro, las restricciones legales a la explotaci\u00f3n del litio generan barreras de entrada adicionales y si el pa\u00eds quiere mantener su competitividad en la industria tiene que necesariamente abrir el mercado.<\/p>\n

Adem\u00e1s, para las zonas amparadas en concesiones condicionadas, el Estado no tiene implementado un procedimiento para acordar con privados su explotaci\u00f3n seg\u00fan la ley. Solo se registr\u00f3 un fallido proceso de licitaci\u00f3n para un \u201cContrato Especial de Operaci\u00f3n de Litio\u201d (CEOL) en 2012.<\/p>\n

En el marco de la nueva pol\u00edtica del litio, en 2016 Codelco inici\u00f3 la b\u00fasqueda de un socio estrat\u00e9gico para explotar el mineral en el Salar de Maricunga y cuya selecci\u00f3n deber\u00eda quedar zanjada en 2017 v\u00eda licitaci\u00f3n. El proceso de recepci\u00f3n de expresiones de inter\u00e9s est\u00e1 cerrado, pero falta la respuesta de la Comisi\u00f3n Chilena de Energ\u00eda Nuclear y el permiso CEOL para explotar sus pertenencias.[:en]
\nThe impetus behind renewable energy and electro mobility is driving increasing demand for lithium, but if Chile fails to take the right steps it could miss the chance to become the global leader in the field. The main challenges towards that goal include progressing from the exportation of the raw material to that of more sophisticated products, while not overlooking the production and refinement of the mineral itself, as well as ensuring the incorporation of new technologies and well-trained human capital. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Atacama Region of northern Chile is home to the best lithium deposits in the world in terms of concentration and environmental conditions. The country also holds 50% of global reserves of the mineral and, as such, is the world leader in production of what is also known as \u2018white gold\u2019. However, Chile has not, as yet, successfully developed the lithium industry to the extent of the one built around the nation\u2019s principal mineral export, copper.<\/p>\n

Therefore, Chile has tremendous potential in the field of lithium. Nevertheless, if it fails to take advantage of this potential it may well miss out on the exponential growth of the global demand for the mineral, which is primarily driven by the rise of electric vehicles and renewable energy devices that require lithium for use in batteries and storage systems.<\/p>\n

One problem currently facing Chile is that its national lithium industry mainly produces the metal compound of lithium carbonate and, in smaller quantities, lithium hydroxide, which is the form used in energy storage. Lithium hydroxide is also the purer form and, although it is more expensive to produce, it achieves a higher commercial price.<\/p>\n

In January 2015, the National Lithium Commission (CNL) devised a report in which it recommended the design of a new national lithium policy and improvements to Chilean governance of its salt flats. These recommendations were put into practice by president Michelle Bachelet in January 2016. The subsequent changes gave rise to increasing numbers of alliances between the Chilean Government, the private sector and academia as part of general efforts to provide value added to the industry, as well as to raise purity grades and bring about the production of more sophisticated products.<\/p>\n

Industry experts now agree that this is the correct path the follow. The economic impact and subsequent development of new technologies could be significant, potentially attracting new research centers and scientists to the country, all of which are crucial components in securing favorable future positioning of the industry.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Demand setting<\/strong><\/p>\n

For a number of years, demand for lithium has been bolstered by the increasing circulation of electric and hybrid vehicles that require batteries composed of the mineral, particularly in the United States, Europe and Asia. This growing demand has also been in response to evolving environmental norms and consumer behavior in which individuals are increasingly conscientious about the effects of climate change.<\/p>\n

Nowadays, electric vehicles total fewer than one million units worldwide, although this figure could soar to 40 million by 2035. Such a scenario would boost global lithium production from approximately 180,000 tonnes in 2016 to more than a million tonnes over the same timeframe, according to data from Corfo, the Chilean economic development agency. In fact, the US firm Tesla has announced the goal of producing 500,000 electric vehicles a year to 2025, while China may have up to three million in circulation by the mid-2020s.<\/p>\n

Rising demand will also materialize from the growing global market in stationary batteries that are used in conjunction with renewable sources of energy. This is especially likely in developed countries, where such batteries are already beginning to play a significant role in national electricity grids.<\/p>\n

According to the aforementioned 2015 CNL report, annual global demand for \u2018white gold\u2019 will rise by 8% to 2025, i.e., to a total of between 350,000 and 400,000 tonnes of lithium equivalent in eight years. Moreover, the worldwide battery industry will significantly increase its share in the consumption of lithium, expanding from 40% of all demand for the mineral in 2014 to approximately 63% in 2025.<\/p>\n

The CNL report also points out that new battery technologies will require greater quantities of lithium hydroxide compared to lithium carbonate. This may increase the overall share in terms of production of the former from 19% to 31% over the same time period.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This aforementioned aspect is crucial, since 89.4% of lithium exported by Chile relates to lithium carbonate, whereas lithium hydroxide represents 6.9%, according to the Chilean Annual Mining Directory 2015 that was produced by the National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) of the Ministry of Mining. It should be noted that these lithium compounds are produced in the country by the Chilean company Sociedad Qu\u00edmica y Minera (SQM) and Rockwood Lithium, a subsidiary of US-based Albemarle Corporation.<\/p>\n

In this context, the former executive secretary of CNL and mining consultant, Ignacio Moreno, concurs with the existence of this rising trend and projects that 80% of the demand for lithium to 2035 will specifically relate to vehicle batteries.<\/p>\n

Currently, the battery industry is growing at 10% per year and could achieve growth rates of between 15% and 18% over the short term. This would help to drive the search for new lithium deposits, according to Daniela Desormeaux, a consultant from signumBOX.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Moreno believes that the lithium market could double in size in the next six or seven years, if production increases in line with the rising demand for the mineral from the battery industry.<\/p>\n

Eduardo Bitran, executive vice president of Corfo, points out that the present global market of lithium carbonate moves 180,000 tonnes of the mineral per year, with an average price of US$7,000 per tonne. Nevertheless, he predicts that to 2035 close to one million tonnes of lithium could be produced around the world, with values that may reach up to an average of US$10,000 per tonne, depending of the value added that is achieved.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the challenge of creating a lithium industry 2.0 in Chile requires additional production of lithium hydroxide. Importantly, the demand for this particular compound is already exceeding that of lithium carbonate to 2027, due to the former\u2019s superior properties in relation to the manufacture of batteries, as well as thanks to ongoing efforts to secure enhanced value added.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First alliances<\/strong><\/p>\n

The majority of relevant players agree that the best way to develop a lithium industry is by means of a consortium that involves the public and private sectors and academia.<\/p>\n

In 2014, the Lithium Innovation Center (CIL) of the Universidad de Chile manufactured Elibatt 4.0, the first nationally produced battery for use in both electrical devices and in a renewable energy context. The project involved ongoing collaboration between universities and business and even predicted the construction of a factory to that end in 2015, although the factor never materialized. Jaime Al\u00e9e, director of CIL at the time, explains that the business model was not sufficiently attractive to raise the required capital for the factory. Nevertheless, he proposes that the next steps required to drive the sector forward include deepening university relations with the business world and bringing sophisticated industry with genuine interest in this particular field to the country, such as Tesla, which is currently building its new Gigafactory in the desert of Nevada, United States.<\/p>\n

Further alliances have also been forged, including that between the Chilean firm Nanotec and Rockwood Lithium, which is conducting research into and development of lithium nanoparticles that, according to Patricio Jarpa, CEO of the former, are considerably advanced. Jarpa explains that Nanotec has created the first nanoparticles of lithium metal with a high grade of purity, in addition to good size conditions and physical properties. The first samples are undergoing testing in Germany, South Korea and the United States, and results are expected in the short term.<\/p>\n

\u201cA battery for devices such as cell phones and means of transportation that contain nano-lithium is going to be more attractive because these smaller particles are more reactive and we expect them to allow the batteries to last longer (three or four years). At the same time, we are looking at ways to make batteries charge more quickly\u201d, explains Jarpa.<\/p>\n

Following in the footsteps of the academics at the Universidad de Chile is Mario Gr\u00e1geda, director of the Center for Advanced Research into Lithium and Industrial Metals (CELiMIN) from the Universidad de Antofagasta. Gr\u00e1geda is leading a project financed by the Scientific and Technological Development Support Fund (FONDEF), which received CLP140 million from the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT) to manufacture a 10-ampere battery for use in mobile and transportable devices, including electric bicycles.<\/p>\n

The team at CELiMIN is currently working on a prototype lithium-ion battery using compounds of the mineral from the Atacama salt flat. Their aim is to develop new materials with greater charging capacity and thermal stability in which the cathode is the most important element. The prototype could be used in any kind of electrical mobile device, including cell phones or laptop computers. The final and fully functional model is expected to be complete by the end of 2018.<\/p>\n

The Center also works on the development of new cathodic active materials based on lithium compounds, with a view to making production processes more environmentally friendly. By utilizing these technologies, the extracted component passes directly from the brine to lithium hydroxide using an innovative electrochemical system.<\/p>\n

Similarly, the Universidad Cat\u00f3lica (UC) is working in conjunction with Rockwood and Argonne National Laboratory in studying a new lithium carbonate that is able to increase the storage capacity and lengthen the life cycle of batteries. Ren\u00e9 Rojas, the academic at the Faculty of Chemistry at UC who is leading this project, states that the main challenge is to introduce materials for cathodes. However, this process, he explains, requires minerals such as manganese, cobalt and nickel, all of which are currently mined in Chile.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Public impetus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eduardo Bitran explains that to the end of March 2017 a call for tender was made to international companies, operating in the area of producing value added to the lithium industry, to formally submit their proposals to begin operations in Chile. The tender was open to companies working in the fields of electro mobility (batteries and components) as well as other lines of use such as chemical applications or for cell phone batteries.<\/p>\n

Corfo will assess the proposals at the end of August, at which point it will draw up a short list prior to announcing which applications are deemed pre-qualified in September. Pre-qualified applicants will then have 90 days to submit their adjoining bid. The State will make a total of 16,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent available for exploitation at preferential prices.<\/p>\n

Bitran explains that Corfo, \u201chas compiled future technological prospects and we understand that the most probable outcome, although we are not discounting other possibilities, is that certain battery components like cathodes and electrolytes that have high lithium carbonate and hydroxide contents, will be the primary candidates for production in Chile\u201d.<\/p>\n

Similarly, the multinational firm Rockwood has been proactive in increasing production and supporting efforts towards value added. This is largely due to the agreement the company signed in January 2017 with Corfo in which the multinational was awarded a maximum period of 27 years to boost production of lithium from 24,000 to 82,000 tonnes per year, as well as being awarded a new quota of lithium metal equivalent up to a maximum of 262,132 tonnes. This agreement must be fulfilled in strict compliance with the current Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) and relevant permits from the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission (CChEN).<\/p>\n

Rockwood also has the option, under the conditions of the agreement, to construct a third plant for battery grade lithium hydroxide to produce 5,000 tonnes, with an additional quota of 34,776 tonnes of lithium metal equivalent. This could enable the company to meet the projected demand for the compound, which is expected to exceed that of lithium carbonate.<\/p>\n

The agreement will, therefore, imply that the US-based firm will direct up to 25% of total production for marketing to international companies at preferential prices, according to the lowest value over the previous six-month period. As a result, Rockwood will be obliged to base its operations in Chile to produce lithium derivatives with value added.<\/p>\n

C\u00e9sar Jil, head of lithium extraction at Albemarle Corporation, believes that this agreement, \u201cwill position Antofagasta at the epicenter of global lithium production, developing a value added industry that we are certain will transform the region into the vanguard of technological development\u201d.<\/p>\n

The plan is to construct Rockwood\u2019s second lithium plant in the previously announced symbiotic park, which the government intends to build adjacent to existing solar power plants located in northern Chile. This step forms part of an ambitious national agenda being put into action to take advantage of the clean natural resources available in the Atacama Desert and thereby transform Chile into a serious producer of solar power.<\/p>\n

The agreement between Rockwood and Corfo includes a unilateral contribution of up to US$12.4 million that is destined for research and development in the country for the expansion of mining and solar potential in the north of Chile. Moreover, it creates a significant benchmark that will attract further international investors to the country that possess the technological experience that Chile is lacking.<\/p>\n

If conditions similar to those under the Rockwood agreement, in terms of increases in production, are applied across the entirety of the salt flat, Chile could benefit from almost US$1 billion of additional financial support to 2035.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to the royalty or research contributions that have been estimated by Rockwood on the basis of a total production of the entire salt flat of around 380,000 tonnes a year and at a price of US$10,000 per tonne, the Chilean State could receive about US$900 million of additional financial support a year to 2035\u201d, says Bifran.<\/p>\n

In addition, private calculations provide evidence of interesting niche segments in which there is space for growth in terms of increasing the purity of lithium carbonate; for example, from 99.3% at a reference price of US$7,000 per tonne to 99.99% at a reference price of US$18,000 per tonne, according to Mario Gr\u00e1geda.<\/p>\n

The maximum purity of commercial lithium carbonate produced in Chile is that which relates to battery grade, i.e., 99.5%. Subsequently, once this is exported to countries such as China its purity level is raised up to EV-grade plus, i.e., 99.99%, making it sufficient for use in electric vehicle batteries. Gr\u00e1geda contends that the purity in Chile is not sufficient for electric vehicle batteries since current grades may affect the performance of their charging capacity and, as such, the country is not competing with the very best manufacturers.<\/p>\n

In general, Daniela Desormeaux believes that a more developed industry across the board offers a number of positive externalities in terms of innovation, such as having knowledgeable scientists in the country, as well as bringing about conditions conducive to the creation of new clusters, industries and technologies.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Production and competiveness<\/strong><\/p>\n

A further aspect that is of particular importance to relevant players is to enhance the production processes of lithium compounds, as well as to improve the purity and sustainability of the mineral extracted.<\/p>\n

Accordingly, the Chilean player SQM states that it has overseen significant technological developments in terms of both understanding lithium and building up related production processes. This is in addition to having invested over US$1.7 billion in the productive and technological development of the Atacama salt flat.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the company is overseeing a production increase to 13,500 tonnes of lithium hydroxide, which includes the construction of a new plant at the Salar del Carmen site, located close to Antofagasta. SQM estimates that this process will conclude by the end of 2017.<\/p>\n

Daniela Desormeaux explains that alternative technologies in general are being developed to stem evaporation, as well as to produce lithium hydroxide directly from the raw material extracted from the salt flat (lithium chloride and brine solution), without having to pass through the stage of lithium carbonate, which is more expensive.<\/p>\n

Moreover, industry players agree that an additional factor that must not be overlooked is keeping track of their competitors.<\/p>\n

Regarding the so-called \u2018ABC triangle\u2019 (in relation to the area of lithium deposits located between Argentina, Bolivia and Chile), Emilio Bunel, director of the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at the US-based Argonne National Laboratory, states that the value added of lithium has not yet been successfully increased. This, he claims, is due to the fact that the mineral is only exploited as a natural resource because the United States and countries in Asia have been able to incorporate it into the supply chain for manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles and electrical devices or those for controlling and regulating electricity networks.<\/p>\n

In particular, Argentina has generated a noteworthy synergy between the public and private sectors and academia to produce lithium batteries. Projections from that country state that in 2018 operations will begin on the country\u2019s first lithium battery factory, thanks to financial support from the Argentinian energy company, YPF.<\/p>\n

In Bolivia, the government has purchased a plant from China in which to produce lithium-ion batteries for use in cell phones and electric vehicles. At present, the country only assembles batteries with products bought from Chile and does not, as yet, manufacture commercial batteries. \u201cThey (the Bolivians) are undoubtedly learning, but they are still not producing value added to the products they are assembling\u201d, states Bunel.<\/p>\n

In Spain, IK4-CIDETEC, an alliance between different technology centers from across the Basque Country, is focusing on manufacturing lithium-ion batteries for which, \u201cit buys all the components and (subsequently) optimizes the assembly\u201d, according to Mario Gr\u00e1geda.<\/p>\n

In the United States, not only academia, but also industry and national research laboratories that are dependent on the country\u2019s Department of Energy, are making progress in energy storage. Simultaneously, the federal government is fostering marketing projects and the optimization of more conventional lithium batteries.<\/p>\n

Consequently, while developed nations are advancing in the field of battery manufacture, Chile, in particular, is beginning to take the first steps in tripartite alliances that will enable the country to meet the global lithium demand. There are a number of opportunities to grasp, but it is first essential to overcome the challenges posed by research, new technologies and human capital in order to create an industry that is relevant to the present times.<\/p>\n

A \u2018non-concessional\u2019 mineral<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the 1980s, the Chilean Government modified its mining legislation and categorized lithium as \u2018non-concessional\u2019, due to the mineral\u2019s status as \u2018strategic\u2019. This status meant that lithium could only be produced by the State or by State companies such as Codelco, which owns 18% of the Maricunga salt flat and 100% of the Pedernales salt flat.<\/p>\n

From the perspective of certain players in this field, the legal restrictions on the exploitation of lithium generate obstacles that impede additional market entry. If, according to this line of thought, the country wishes to remain competitive in the industry, authorities will have to take steps to open up the market.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, for the areas protected under the conditional concession framework, the State has failed to implement any procedures to engage with private entities in order to exploit the resource in line with legal standards. To date, there has been only one, unsuccessful, bidding process to that end for a \u2018Special Lithium Operating Contract\u2019 (CEOL), in 2012.<\/p>\n

Under the government\u2019s new lithium policy, in 2016 Codelco initiated a search for a strategic partner to exploit the mineral in the Maricunga salt flat, the selection of which should be finalized via a tender process during 2017. The call for expressions of interest has concluded and what remains is the final decision from the CChEN and the subsequent awarding of the CEOL permit to exploit the resource.[:]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[:es] Las energ\u00edas renovables y la movilidad el\u00e9ctrica est\u00e1n impulsando su demanda. Si Chile no avanza, podr\u00eda perder la oportunidad de ser el l\u00edder mundial. \u00bfRetos? Pasar de exportar materia prima a productos sofisticados sin dejar de lado la producci\u00f3n, refinamiento del mineral y la incorporaci\u00f3n de nuevas tecnolog\u00edas y capital humano preparado. 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