These illustration photos show lithium-rich salt extraction at the Albemarle salt plains at Salar de Atacama. It is located in the Antofagasta region, Northern Chile. Chile is the second largest lithium producer in the world, and holds the world’s third largest reserves of the metal.

Chile is already a major supplier of lithium to the EU, and the EU plans to work ahead with Chile on a new strategic partnership on raw materials. Lithium is one of the critical raw materials needed for the EU’s green and digital transition.