The pact to explore business opportunities, under which both will invest about $5 billion, covers industries such as renewable energy, hydrogen, and logistics.
Indigenous communities living around Chile’s Atacama salt flat last year asked authorities to suspend SQM’s operating permits or reduce its operations until it submits an environmental compliance plan acceptable to regulators.
The country awarded two of five contracts on offer -- one to Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD and another to local firm Servicios y Operaciones Mineras del Norte.
Despite the pullback in iron ore and copper prices, the MINING.COM TOP 50 ranking of the world’s most valuable miners made strong gains at the end of the year.