Lithium squeeze looms as top miner front-loads, Chile says

SANTIAGO – Plans by one of the world’s top lithium producers to accelerate output could lead to a shortage of the light metal used in electric-car batteries in five years, according to the Chilean government’s development agency.

Soc. Quimica & Minera de Chile SA last month announced plans to increase its capacity to produce lithium carbonate from 48 000 to 63 000 metric tonnes a year. At that rate, it would reach its output limit of about 1 million tonnes well before the concession with Corfo, which owns the land, expires in 2030. Extracting more from the area would require applying for new licences. SQM is embroiled in a dispute with Corfo over royalty payments.

“We estimate it will reach its quota and be forced to stop producing lithium in the Atacama salt flat in 2022,” Corfo Executive Vice President Eduardo Bitran said in an interview from his Santiago offices. "If demand keeps growing at the current rate, projections show a period of significant lithium scarcity.”

SQM may reach its quota in 2023 or later, depending on production levels and sales over the next few years, the company said in an emailed response to questions. On Friday, Larrain Vial raised its recommendation on the stock to buy from hold, citing the lithium expansion plan.

Chile’s Atacama salt flat is home to the world’s largest lithium reserves and is the only area mined for lithium in the country. SQM has a concession to operate in 75% of the salt flat. Albemarle Corp. operates in the remaining area.

In an arbitration process, Corfo is arguing that the company underpaid taxes and fees, an accusation that SQM has denied. The company controlled by Chilean entrepreneur Julio Ponce is also under investigation for a series of illegal payments to politicians and for tax evasion, while Ponce himself is appealing a $70 million fine for illegal trading in SQM holding companies handed down in 2014.

“The company hopes that differences with Corfo can be solved before the quota is exhausted," it said in the statement. "We also hope we can agree on a quota increase that will allow us not only to keep producing at these levels, but also to increase production."

In January, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Albemarle entered into an agreement with Corfo to raise annual production to 80 000 t of lithium carbonate through 2043. But even that might not be enough to cover rising demand from companies including Tesla.

"Albemarle is planning a significant increase in production over the next three years, to the point it will overtake SQM’s current output," Bitran said. "We expect Albemarle to keep increasing its brine extraction levels so they can increase lithium production even more in a few years’ time."

Global demand is forecast to reach 188 000 t of lithium carbonate this year, and could reach 611 000 t by 2035, according to Corfo’s most conservative scenario. The agency’s most optimistic outlook is demand of 1.2-million tons in 2035, about half of which is set to come from electric-car makers.

ARGENTINA AMBITIONS
Still, Chile isn’t alone in developing its vast deposits.

Neighbouring Argentina is also looking to tap into the lithium boom, with Albemarle, SQM, Eramet SA and Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. among groups looking at expanding or building new lithium operations in the country. SQM expects to start lithium production in Argentina’s Cauchari salt flat in 2019. If all of the projects go ahead, Argentina’s annual output would surge to 165 000 t, according to government projections.

Chile is also developing policies to stimulate lithium investment in other salt flats. State-owned copper giant Codelco is looking to enter the lithium business and is scheduled to announce a partner in the coming months to develop projects. Even so, it will take about seven years for any new mine to be producing at full speed, Bitran said.

"Demand is growing really fast and the projects in the pipeline have a slow maturity process," he said. "So it is possible that the market is quite tight over the next seven years."