A facility in northern Chile has doubled its lithium extraction rate since installing Atlas Copco’s WEDA drainage pumps.
Operators at the South American plant wanted to improve their lithium extraction process and turned to Atlas Copco’s distribution partner, TRILE, for expert advice and a reliable solution. In addition to optimising its process, the mine has also reduced its maintenance costs by 60%.
The importance of lithium
Lithium is crucial to global decarbonisation and the energy transition. In 2023, Chile accounted for roughly 24% of global lithium production, estimated at 44,000 metric tons. This is a more than 15% year-on-year increase .
Improving the extraction process
Battery-grade lithium carbonate is produced by refining brine. Lithium extraction involves pumping brine from underground reservoirs to the surface and through a series of evaporation ponds.
The brine level in each pond must be carefully controlled to achieve efficient rates of evaporation. Rapid evaporation is crucial to facilitating lithium’s concentration, and shallower ponds have a faster rate of...
Atlas Copco WEDA electric dewatering pumps optimise extraction process
