リチウム開発で協力　チリと覚書改定―経産省

　経済産業省は１４日、南米チリとの鉱業分野に関する協力覚書を改定したと発表した。持続可能なリチウム資源開発で協力するなど２項目を追加した。チリは、電気自動車（ＥＶ）向け車載電池の原料となる炭酸リチウムなどを生産する資源大国で、日本は多くの資源を同国から輸入している。経産省は重要鉱物の安定的な確保を見据え、協力を拡大する。
　経産省内で同日、覚書改定の署名式が開かれ、斎藤健経産相とチリのウィリアムス鉱業相が出席した。斎藤氏は「経済成長と脱炭素の両立は両国共通の課題であり、チリはその実現に不可欠な鉱物を豊富に持つ重要なパートナーだ」と強調した。（2024/06/14-16:35）

Japan has newly added collaboration for the sustainable development of lithium resources to a mining cooperation agreement with Chile, the industry ministry said Friday.
   The South American country is a major producer of lithium carbonate, used in batteries for electric vehicles, and Japan imports various resources from it. The ministry hopes that expanding the collaboration will lead to securing critical minerals on a stable basis.
   A signing ceremony for a revision to the two countries' memorandum of mining-sector cooperation was held at the ministry in Tokyo the same day, attended by industry minister Ken Saito and Chilean Mining Minister Aurora Williams.
   "Balancing economic growth and decarbonization is a common challenge for the two countries, and Chile is a key partner rich in minerals necessary to achieve this," Saito said at the ceremony.
   Under the revised agreement, Japan and Chile will engage in technical cooperation for environmentally friendly lithium development and bolster collaboration through an annual public-private joint conference on the mining sector that will bring together Japanese companies operating in Chile and Chilean government officials.