Chilean Mining Minister Marcela Hernando announced on May 17 that the Chilean Copper Industry Commission (Cochilco) will review and manage investments in the soon-to-be-formed Chilean National Lithium Company, Mining.com reported, citing Reuters.
Cochilco, which oversees and manages Chile's copper industry, will next expand its oversight to include lithium, which is used in electric cars and batteries.
In April, President Boric announced that the country would nationalize strategic lithium projects and instructed Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, to start talks with Albemarle and SQM, which are exploiting lithium in the arid Atacama salt flats.
The bill to establish the company will be submitted to Congress in the second half of the year.
Nicolas Grau, the economy minister, said the talks were likely to be completed by the end of the government's term in 2026.
