Albemarle Ends Apprenticeship Program With 18 Hires

The students entered to work at the La Negra and Salar plants as plant operators, ponds and wells, electromechanics, quality assistants and mechanical assistants.

November 2023.- Albemarle, a global leader in the supply of essential elements for Mobility, Energy, Connectivity and Health, announced that 18 young people from the Antofagasta Region were hired for its La Negra and Salar plants, after successfully completing the third generation of the Apprentice Program, promoted by the lithium producer together with the National Training and Employment Service (SENCE) and the Industrial and Mining Training Center (CEIM).

Ignacio Mehech, VP External Affairs LATAM and country manager Albemarle highlighted that "we are happy to welcome the third generation of apprentices, new talents that reaffirm our commitment to the development of the New Era of Lithium, which is also the creation of social value, which impacts the development of human capital. More than 80% of our workers are from the Antofagasta Region, 30% belong to indigenous peoples and 16% correspond to women, which fills us with pride."

PROGRAM

This dual training program was first initiated in October 2020, in order to promote the talent of young professional technicians from the Antofagasta Region, who have less than five years of work experience in the non-metallic mining field, and seek to perform as new operators of lithium plants, pools and wells. instrumentalists, electromechanics, welders, as well as mechanical assistants and assistants. In this third version, the participation of 40% of young people belonging to the indigenous communities of the Salar de Atacama, including Socaire, Toconao and Peine, was particularly noteworthy.

The third version of the Apprentices program had a special focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, not only of indigenous communities, but also considered 40% of women. "This is a very pleasant experience, I want to thank Albemarle for giving me this opportunity and also CEIM, because they gave us the foundations to grow and develop in the professional field," said Mailyn Plaza, operator of pools and wells of Planta Salar, who belongs to the town of Socaire.

Marcos Rodríguez, head of the Processes and Industrial Mechanics area of CEIM, commented that "this milestone represents the success of the program, however, for the students it is a start. For us it is very gratifying that people who trained with us, thanks to the trust that Albemarle gave us, are now starting a long road in which they have their initial skills and that they now have the opportunity to continue developing".

EXPERIENCE

Ricardo Díaz, operator of Planta La Negra and former apprentice of the first version of the program, said that "in this type of program, the important thing is the support of each person who is behind you, of each teacher who has his or her time to reach a high level of teaching, as well as the knowledge provided by Albemarle's colleagues. that is essential."

Albemarle is organizing the fourth version of the program, which will take place in the summer of 2024 and will be communicated through Albemarle Chile's LinkedIn, as well as the media and through the community's team.