Extracted materials: Lithium brine, Potash, Bischofite, Halite, Sylvinite
Audit timeline
Stage 1: completed 12 January 2022.
Stage 2: completed 7 June 2022.
El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
Audit details
Assessment type: Initial Audit
Assessment scope: The assessment will include brine extraction, concentration, and waste disposal areas at SQM’s Salar de Atacama site, located in the Salar de Atacama sector (commune of San Pedro de Atacama), El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region of Chile. During the assessment the impacts and issues associated with the site will be reviewed, and each operation and facility will be visited.
SQM proposed in its assessment application form that 21 chapters of the IRMA Standard apply at the Salar de Atacama site, and the company proposes that the following chapters are not relevant (during Stage 1 of the audit, ERM-CVS will assess the company’s proposal for why chapters are not relevant):
- 2.4 – Resettlement
- 3.4 – Mining in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas
- 3.6 – Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining
- 4.7 – Cyanide Management
- 4.8 – Mercury Management
Audit status: Stage 2 completed.
Certification body: ERM Certification and Verification Services. (website)
Stakeholder engagement: To provide input or participate in audits, contact:
ERM Certification and Verification Services Limited
Postnet Suite 90, Private Bag X12,
Exchequer Court, 33 St Mary Axe, London, EC3A 8A
Email: post@ermcvs.com
Audit-related complaints
- To file a complaint about the audit results (e.g., achievement level, scores, content of audit reports) contact ERM-CVS at post@ermcvs.com
- To file a complaint about auditors or Certification Bodies (e.g., performance, competencies, potential conflicts of interest, etc.): file a complaint with IRMA.