Lithium Extraction Controversy at Chile’s Maricunga Salt Flat
Rio Tinto and Codelco have formed a joint venture to extract lithium from the Salar de Maricunga, Chile’s second-largest salt flat located in the Atacama region at about 3,760 metres above sea level. The extraction process depends on brine evaporation, a method that typically results in a loss of about 85-95% of water, sparking serious concerns regarding water scarcity for nearby communities.
The Colla Indigenous peoples consider the Maricunga salt flat both sacred and a crucial source of water. There are fears that reinjecting treated brine, which could contain chemical traces, might damage the fragile ecosystem that supports 53 animal species along with native flora. The southern part of the salt flat lies within the Nevado Tres Cruces National Park, and the hydrology of the area links the entire salt flat ecosystem, making it difficult to distinguish between the northern and southern zones.
Although six local communities were invited to consultations, only about 10% of the Indigenous population has been engaged, while 24 other Colla communities claim they have not been consulted at all. A legal challenge has been filed seeking broader consultation.
Rio Tinto advocates the use of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, which is said to conserve water through recycling and reinjection, and is already implemented in Argentina’s Rincón and Fénix projects. However, the lithium extraction method for Maricunga has not yet been finalized.
Chile’s political climate is also a factor, with President-elect José Antonio Kast, expected to take office on 11 March 2026, promoting faster private-sector lithium development and streamlined permitting processes. Environmentalists warn that this could undermine existing environmental protections and reduce regulatory oversight for the sensitive high-altitude salt flats and their ecosystems.
