China’s Tianqi to Keep Fighting for Say in SQM Lithium Deal

Tianqi Lithium Corp., a key shareholder in Chilean miner SQM, will continue its battle for a say in a deal that would determine ownership of one of the world’s biggest lithium operations, the Chinese producer’s chief executive said.

Authorities in Santiago have been pushing for the state to have a more significant role in managing the country’s lithium resources. A landmark deal earlier this year between SQM and state-owned Codelco would see the lithium miner relinquish a majority stake in its prized Atacama salt flat mine to Codelco in exchange for three more decades of operations.