Chile has launched an auction process to award special operating contracts to explore and produce 400,000 tons of electric battery metal lithium, the mining ministry said late on Wednesday, a move to bolster production and meet global demand. The move comes as the Andean country, which sits on South America's so-called "lithium triangle" and is one of the world's top producers of the metal, looks to accelerate development of new projects, which have stalled in recent years. Global lithium demand is rising, driven by a shift towards electric vehicles and the increase use of electric batteries, which need the ... (full story)