Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) is a leading chemical company in Chile that supplies plant nutrients, iodine, lithium, and industrial chemicals. As the world’s demand for lithium rises due to the growing electric vehicle (EV) industry, SQM plays a pivotal role in providing lithium from some of the largest mines in the Lithium Triangle, where approximately 58% of the world’s lithium resources are sourced from. The company’s operations are located in northern Chile, with major sites including:

• Salar de Atacama Mine: One of the world’s largest lithium brine mines located in Antofagasta, Chile
• Yapuckuta: Situated in the northern part of the Atacama Salt Flat near Highway 23, which connects Chile and Argentina
• Salar del Carmen: Site of lithium carbonate production since 1997
• Nueva Victoria: Iodine production facility also established in 1997

The company is at the forefront of lithium extraction and its associated environmental challenges, particularly in the face of increased global demand for lithium.

Environmental Challenges

SQM aims to achieve carbon neutrality across all its products by 2040, including lithium, potassium chloride, and iodine. While there are no specific local laws that required SQM to adopt the LFC biodigester, their decision to incorporate this technology is a proactive step in fulfilling their internal sustainability goals.

• SQM’s 2022 sustainability report highlights their emissions, totaling 1,481,487 tons of CO2 equivalent (Scope 1, 2, and 3). Their goal is a 50% waste reduction by 2025.
• SQM has set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality in its lithium production by 2030.

With a clear understanding of the environmental footprint that comes with large-scale mining, SQM recognized a need to reduce waste and minimize their overall carbon footprint, especially in their daily operational activities. Food waste management within their facilities became a focal point in their sustainability efforts.

Key challenges included:

• High costs associated with traditional waste disposal methods
• Increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions
• Managing food scraps from daily operations in an environmentally responsible way

Why Power Knot?

SQM discovered Power Knot through the commercial efforts of a local dealer who understood the specific needs of large industrial operations like SQM’s. SQM was unaware of other food waste disposal machines or composting solutions on the market but chose Power Knot’s LFC biodigester due to its reputation for efficient waste management and alignment with their sustainability goals.

Mining operations often face significant challenges in managing waste, particularly in remote or high-production environments. The LFC biodigester offers a sustainable solution by efficiently processing food waste from daily operations, converting it into grey water that can be safely discharged. This reduces the need for traditional waste disposal methods, lowers operational costs, and significantly minimizes the environmental impact. By integrating the LFC biodigester into mining sites, companies can not only improve waste management but also demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship, aligning with global sustainability trends.

In June 2021, SQM installed the LFC-200 biodigester at the Salar de Atacama Mine to address the growing issue of food waste. The machine processes food scraps from daily operations, turning it into grey water that can be safely discharged, greatly reducing the volume of waste that needs to be managed.

Since the installation of the LFC-200 biodigester:

• Waste management at SQM’s facility has become more efficient, reducing the cost and environmental impact associated with food waste disposal.
• The company has made tangible progress toward its goal of reducing its carbon footprint.

At Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), sustainability is at the forefront of their operations, particularly as they lead lithium extraction to meet the growing demand from the electric vehicle industry. While lithium is essential for a greener future, the environmental impact of its mining cannot be ignored. SQM’s commitment to carbon neutrality and responsible waste management, including the use of technologies like the LFC biodigester, exemplifies their proactive approach to reducing emissions and minimizing environmental damage. As the world continues to rely on lithium for clean energy solutions, companies like SQM are essential in balancing industrial growth with sustainable practices that protect the planet.