en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chile's state-owned copper company, Codelco, has submitted an Environmental Impact Declaration (DIA) to the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) for a project named "Lithium Exploration and Brine Reinjection Testing in the Pedernales Salt Flat." Located in the municipality of Diego de Almagro in the Atacama Region, the project aims to assess the lithium resource potential within the salt flat. Codelco's lithium exploration plan involves an investment of US$12 million and is currently in the environmental assessment phase.
According to documents submitted by Codelco, the project proposes drilling 114 exploratory wells, including 43 observation wells, 9 exploration wells, 21 pumping wells, 8 reinjection wells, and 33 monitoring wells. Related activities will be carried out in three exploration phases, lasting approximately 83 months. The plan includes conducting exploration, pumping tests, and brine reinjection tests to evaluate the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of the technology. The project is located about 40 kilometers east of El Salvador, at an altitude of approximately 3,370 meters, within the mining concessions owned by Codelco in the Pedernales Salt Flat.
Codelco stated that the project's objective is to conduct a preliminary assessment of lithium and other mineral resources in the Pedernales Salt Flat brines and to obtain relevant hydrogeological information about the system. The company noted that the study will utilize geological, geophysical, and geochemical data, supplemented by exploratory drilling and reinjection tests. Codelco's lithium exploration and reinjection testing plan also includes the construction of a camp covering approximately 1.5 hectares for personnel accommodation during the construction, operation, and closure phases, with infrastructure including offices, a canteen, dormitories, and waste storage areas.
The total lifespan of the project is estimated at 87 months (equivalent to 7 years and 3 months), with a planned workforce of up to 204 workers during the operational phase. Codelco explained that the site selection is based on the geological potential for lithium-mineralized brines in this salt flat. In the DIA submitted to the SEIA, the company stated, "This will provide sufficient and necessary information for the study and development of future projects, and obtain more information about the geology and hydrogeology of the salt flat."
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
