Chile fines Albemarle for lithium extraction violations

Chile’s environmental regulator has fined Albemarle (NYSE: ALB) nearly $340,000 for violations at its lithium operations in the Atacama salt flat, escalating tensions between the world’s top lithium producer and Chilean authorities.The Superintendence of the Environment (SMA) said Albemarle exceeded its approved water extraction limits between October 2019 and September 2020, drawing an average of 452.3 litres per second, which is above what was authorized under its environmental permit. The regulator also ...