Codelco chairman says SQM lithium deal on track, despite Tianqi dispute

A plan to kick off a partnership between Chilean state miner Codelco and the world's No. 2 lithium producer SQM is on track for next year despite a potential challenge from a major SQM shareholder, China's Tianqi, Codelco chairman Maximo Pacheco said on Thursday. Codelco and SQM last week announced the finalised terms of a deal that will let SQM boost output through 2060 in Chile's prized Atacama salt flat, while giving Codelco a majority stake in SQM's operations. The tie-up will push the state into a front-line role in developing the key electric vehicle battery metal.