Chile’s lithium boom promises jobs and money — but threatens a critical water source

Chile’s lithium boom promises jobs and money — but threatens a critical water source

In the main square of Peine, a village of low houses and dirt streets in Chile’s northern Atacama Desert, there is barely any movement. It’s midday and the sun beats down from a cloudless sky. At this hour, the streets remain largely empty. Every now and then, a truck interrupts the silence of its steep and cracked streets. But it’s not always this quiet. Although this small town has just over 300 residents, its population can quadruple after 6 …

The Atacama Desert is an important source of lithium for electric vehicle batteries. As global demand increases, the Lickanantay people rush to protect the already scarce water reserves and their lifestyle.