The move is part of the new government's strategy to rebuild trust on the project following deadly protests that halted exports from the mine in October.
Based on the conglomerate's estimates, opening such plant would increase value of the product 35 times, comparing to what it could be obtained by just selling it as lithium carbonate.
Met coal's stunning run is reversing as consensus forecasts point to $125 drop by year-end, but new UN sanctions could cost China its number two supplier.