Mine / resource · Chile

Salares Altoandinos (ENAMI JV)

ExplorationNot yet verifiedAs of 25 Oct 2026
Owner
ENAMI 49% (state-owned, unlisted); Rio Tinto 51% on closing (binding agreement; closing pending)
Listed via
RIO (RIO: pending JV partner (51% on closing))
Product
Brine
Deposit type
Brine
Capacity
Pre-feasibility stage (DLE), sole-funded by Rio; no capacity disclosed by Rio
Location
-25.75°, -68.64°

Multi-salar project in Diego de Almagro, Atacama region; ENAMI's focus is the Aguilar, La Isla and Grande salars. Location = centre of Salar de La Isla (public geographic data); best estimate, not an operation site. Rio Q3 2026 Ops Review (p.16): agreement closure now expected late 2026 / early 2027

Ownership structure

Effective economic interest of listed owners · As of 25 Oct 2026
Rio TintoRIO · pending JV partner (51% on closing)51%Other / unlisted49%Salares Altoandinos (EMine / resource

Structure: ENAMI 49% (state-owned, unlisted); Rio Tinto 51% on closing (binding agreement; closing pending). 49% is held by unlisted or untracked owners.

Value chain

Owners, buyers and the refineries on Li3atlas they feed · As of 25 Oct 2026
Listed ownersRio TintoRIO · 51%
Mine / resourceSalares Altoandinos (ENAMI JV)Pre-feasibility stage (DLE), sole-funded by Rio; no capacity disclosed by Rio

Country risk · Chile

Policy risk: Medium As of 24 Oct 2026

State-led model: Codelco holds 50% plus one share of NovaAndino Litio, which runs SQM's Salar de Atacama operations until 2060 (deal closed Dec 2025). source

Change history

Approved changes with their source · As of 25 Oct 2026
DateFieldChangeSource
25 Oct 2026Notesnew: Added to Li3atlas: Salares Altoandinos (ENAMI JV)Rio Tinto media release: Rio Tinto and ENAMI sign binding agreement for Salares Altoandinos lithium project in Chile (24 Jul 2025)

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