Chile’s comptroller’s office said on Friday it will launch an audit into the lithium agreement between state-owned copper giant Codelco and local producer SQM, following complaints raised by lawmakers. The review will examine the integrity and compliance of the deal, which is central to Chile’s lithium strategy.
In a statement, Codelco welcomed the decision, saying it would approach the audit with “complete transparency and professionalism.” The company added that the process would help “reaffirm the integrity” of its agreement with SQM. SQM, meanwhile, said it would not comment on the audit.
The comptroller’s office noted that the audit stems from concerns flagged by legislators but clarified that it is barred from ruling on most of the complaints due to prior decisions by the justice system. The review will nonetheless proceed within the limits of its legal mandate.
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