“The most important thing is that people that know what they are doing continue to do what they know well,” said Professor Tom Moerenhout at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and its Center on Global Energy Policy. SQM is one of two companies, along with the US-based lithium miner Albemarle, operating in the Salar de Atacama, a salt flat in northern Chile. SQM has a contract to operate in the site until 2030, while Albemarle’s contract is valid through 2043. The negotiations will benefit both parties if SQM’s contract is extended beyond 2030, in which case the company will have the ... (full story)