<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p><span>By Nic Stone</span></p><p><span>One of two private lithium miners in Chile, SQM, achieved record sales in Q3 as a couple of years of dampened demand and lower pricing for the mineral seem to be ending, prompting the company to push a series of expansion projects again. SQM is looking to expand its production and has earmarked US$2.7bn in investment through 2027. The company will expand its Carmen chemical plant operation to reach 240,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2026, up from 210,000t of LCE. The group will also move forward with a system-wide expansion of capacity to produce up to 100,000 tonnes per annum of lithium hydroxide. SQM executives expect its planned partnership with state miner Codelco to ramp up extraction in the Atacama salt flat to be settled by year-end. </span></p><span> </span></div></div>

<p>SQM, a private lithium miner in Chile, plans to invest US$2.7 billion through 2027 to expand its production. The company aims to increase its Carmen chemical plant's output to 240,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2026 and expand lithium hydroxide production to 100,000 tonnes per annum. SQM also anticipates finalizing a partnership with state miner Codelco to enhance extraction in the Atacama salt flat by year-end.</p>

Chile – SQM eyes expansions