In a new milestone in the development of the New Lithium Era, on July 9, Albemarle, one of the largest lithium producers in the world, connected to the National Electric System (SEN), which will allow it to produce lithium reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by covering its energy needs from the SEN with renewable sources. delivering even more value to your production process.
This initiative was possible thanks to an energy supply agreement that the company signed with ENGIE in 2018, a contract equivalent to 180 GWh per year to supply its operations located in the Antofagasta Region, thus eliminating the use of fossil fuel for the generation of energy from the Salar Plant.
This project had more than 650,000 man hours and its execution considered three stages. The construction of a distribution line from the SEN's Tap Oeste substation to the Salar Plant (approximately 35 kilometers), the expansion of the Tap Off Oeste substation and the construction of the new medium voltage modular room for the complete integration and interconnection of the Salar Plant to the SEN.
"Having energy from the SEN is an important step forward in the development of the new era of lithium, especially to move towards direct extraction technologies that are very intensive in the use of energy," said Ignacio Mehech, VP External Affairs and Country Manager Chile at Albemarle.
Another major issue in this development is the water issue, and for this Albemarle is advancing in the search for new water sources, without which it is not feasible to use direct extraction. "Our water consumption compared to other actors in the Atacama salt flat basin is minimal. However, we have a commitment to being part of the solution. That is why we signed an agreement with the company CRAMSA to provide us with desalinated water from the sea, of up to 500 l/s, starting in 2027 (pending permits and construction), which allows us to analyze the implementation of direct lithium extraction methods at our Salar de Atacama plant. This agreement not only benefits Albemarle, it also opens the option of the arrival of desalinated seawater to the Salar de Atacama basin as more actors support and join this initiative," says Mehech.