Green Tech's Hidden Cost: How Lithium Mining Dries Up Chile's Salt Flats

Raquel Celina Rodriguez walks across the Vega de Tilopozo in Chile's Atacama salt flats, remembering when the land was green and full of life. Her family raised sheep here for generations, but now the ground is dry and cracked, and the pools of water have disappeared. Raquel says things got worse when lithium companies started taking water from the area. Lithium is a metal found under the salt flats and is used in batteries for electric cars, laptops, and solar panels. As the world tries to use more renewable energy, the demand for lithium has increased rapidly. In 2021, about 95,000 tonnes of lithium were used worldwide, but by 2024, that number had more than doubled. Experts predict that by 2040, the demand will rise to over 900,000 tonnes, mostly for electric car batteries.

Chile is the world's second-largest producer of lithium, after Australia. The government has launched a National Lithium Strategy to increase production, partly by nationalizing the industry and encouraging private investment. Mining lithium involves pumping brine from beneath the salt flats into evaporation pools, which uses a lot of water in an already drought-prone region. Faviola Gonzalez, a biologist from the local indigenous community, monitors environmental changes in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. She has noticed that the lagoons are shrinking and there are fewer flamingos. The mining process affects microorganisms in the water, which are food for birds, so the whole food chain is impacted. Faviola saw a few flamingo chicks hatch this year, which she attributes to a slight reduction in water extraction, but says the success is small compared to the past.

Studies have shown that brine extraction is causing the Salar de Atacama to decline, with the land sinking and water resources becoming exhausted. Damage to native trees has also been reported, although mining companies claim their own monitoring shows improvement. The issue extends beyond Chile, as lithium mining can reduce freshwater availability for plants, animals, and humans. Mining companies say they are working with communities and testing new technologies to reduce water use and environmental impact. However, many locals remain skeptical, fearing their land is being used as an experiment. Some say they would rather have water and nature than money from the companies. The community has had to change its water and electrical systems due to shortages, and leaders want more involvement in decisions that affect their land. While lithium is important for the transition to renewable energy, locals do not want their home to be sacrificed. The situation in the Atacama salt flats highlights the global dilemma of balancing environmental protection with the need for green technology.