MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Chilean company and global leading lithium producer strengthens market position
The world leading lithium producer SQM has won a tender to develop a lithium concession in Chile, which produces around 40% of the metal, used widely in hybrid vehicles and computer and smart-phone batteries, the Mining Ministry said on Monday. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules“Some in Chile have decried the tender, accusing the government of surrendering a valuable resource to private hands.”
Sep 25th, 2012 - 03:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ah! The big bad private company who is going to pay USD 40.6 million for the privalege of spending further millions and take the risk that the market isn't flooded by other ore and mining companies BEFORE they make a profit.
I really thought Chile had come out of the leftist nonsense that chokes the rest of LatAm, perhaps I was mistaken.
WELL DONE THE CHILEAN GOVERNMENT.
I agree with you in principle Chris, but it always looks bad when large contracts go to family members of ministers, however legitimate the process was. This government has not done enough to distance itself from conflicts of interest, perceived or otherwise.
Sep 25th, 2012 - 06:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“I really thought Chile had come out of the leftist nonsense that chokes the rest of LatAm, perhaps I was mistaken.”
Sep 25th, 2012 - 07:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Typical comment from a moron that's stuck in the fake left vs right paradigm.
Tthe fact is that SQM has the superior capability with the track record and expertise to make best use of the license. SQM also owns the properties on secondary salars like Maricunga to support its bid. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the other bidders who really need to build their credibility. The award was justified and the decision the right one!
Sep 25th, 2012 - 09:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Edward R Anderson
TRU Group Inc Lithium Consultants
trugroup.com
2 Condorito
Sep 25th, 2012 - 09:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But in your opinion was the tender process genuine?
@3 Still haven't answered my question have you Dildo?
Chris,
Sep 25th, 2012 - 10:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I don't know enough about it. The usual knee jerk reactions went off in the press this morning, but I guess this week there will be better info in the press about it. Mr TRU above is probably right.
My point was that this gov't has not done a great job managing this kind of issue.
But better for long that the last 20 years of Concertacón Gvts.......It´s clear that the involved minister didn´t participate in the desition. SQM is the best and biggest Li producer, it´s Chilean and have the resources, capbility and guts to do it at the best level.....so well done.....
Sep 26th, 2012 - 02:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0Keep growing, Chilito, while others fall down, che.....viste...!!!
6 Condorito
Sep 26th, 2012 - 11:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks for that.
Your point about the government is, in my experience, true for western governments as well.
They usually say 'you have elected us to do these things, trust us to do it right'. Then you find that for a number of reasons they have made a balls up of it! :o)
Sergio,
Sep 26th, 2012 - 01:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You are correct, but this story is still going to run in the press for a while, it is already looking like a polemic issue.
Chris,
The Chilean case is different from western issues of a similar nature. Basically this is a bump in the long road of transition from dictatorship to democracy. Although the right to vote returned overnight (on return to democracy) the process to rebalance and reduce many of the interests and influences of the pre-democracy government is a much slower process. Wisely in Chile this change has been natural rather than a witch hunt. The first 20 years of transition were under the Concertacion (now in opposition) who did nothing about this particular issue (as is the case with education reform) whilst in power, so they are being opportunistic by throwing petrol on the fire here.
In the end, I think most of us will look at the business case, the investment, the exports and the jobs and agree the right decision has been made.
#1 “I really thought Chile had come out of the leftist nonsense that chokes the rest of LatAm, perhaps I was mistaken”
Oct 03rd, 2012 - 01:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0=)
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