SQM builds sustainable development in Salar de Atacama in partnership with the community

Perched 2,400 meters above sea level, Calama, the capital of the El Loa Province, has gradually become a development hub for renewable energies, sustainable industries and tourism that is conscious of and committed to promoting the area’s history and heritage. SQM has always had a presence in this community, developing initiatives that contribute to the quality of life of local families and their surroundings as part of its Sustainability Plan and commitment to creating shared value.

A clear example of this collaborative work is the inauguration of the first photovoltaic plant in Camar, Salar de Atacama, which currently generates electricity 24 hours a day using 100% solar energy. It meets the needs of the entire town and benefits all of its 47 families. This milestone in the area of sustainable development is part of the Development Plan driven by the residents themselves to prioritize sustainable initiatives based on a long-term vision.

In the area of agricultural development and under the auspices of SQM’s Atacama Tierra Fertil Program, the Talabre Atacameña Indigenous Community introduced an autonomous solar irrigation system in its greenhouses nearly a year ago. This initiative is part of collaborative work with the community and is designed to drive local agriculture, promoting sustainable farming in the driest desert in the world.

In this same context, some 109 Salar de Atacama residents have been growing their own home gardens for over a year thanks to the “Family Gardens” initiative, which was created a few months after the COVID-19 public health emergency began to support communities’ efforts to encourage residents to grow their own produce. Currently, residents are growing Swiss chard, lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, green onions, carrots and fruit. This gives them better access to these products and allows them to improve their knowledge of farming, which they can transfer to other crops in Lickanantay where farming has long been an important industry.

In the area of education, 96 Salar de Atacama students completed their elementary and secondary schooling through the fourth version of the Second Chance Education Program developed jointly by SQM and the municipality of San Pedro de Atacama. The program is designed to encourage individuals who were unable to complete their schooling for various reasons to do so.

The program was held virtually last year due to the pandemic. This made it easier for students from outlying areas of San Pedro de Atacama to participate, including residents of Camar, Peine, Río Grande, Socaire, Talabre, and Toconao.

SQM and the Salar de Atacama community also worked for 11 months on a mobile dental clinic which toured various towns, maintaining residents’ dental health and ensuring continuity of care in Camar, Socaire, Talabre, and Toconao. A total of 3,000 consultations have been provided to date.

The initiative, which runs through 2022, brings a fully equipped truck to the community. The mobile facility allows professionals to provide high quality comprehensive dental care, including instant intra-oral x-rays that facilitate diagnostics and subsequent dental procedures.

SQM’s Director of Nitrates and Iodine Communities and Public Affairs Pablo Pisani highlighted the importance of this collaborative effort, stating, “On this new anniversary, we want to reaffirm our commitment to the communities of El Loa, with whom we develop initiatives that align with our Sustainability Plan each year. They also contribute to improving the quality of life of all of the residents of this beautiful territory.”

The first photovoltaic plant, which benefits 47 families in the community of Camar, was inaugurated with a traditional land tribute.

The Second Chance Education Program developed by SQM and the municipality of San Pedro has benefited 96 students.

Over 3,000 dental appointments have been offered to date through the Salar de Atacama Mobile Dental Clinic, which runs through the end of 2022.