Codelco and SQM have reached a pre-agreement for the exploitation of lithium in the Salar de Atacama, which falls short of the Chilean government's initial goal to control the company with 51% of the shares before 2030. The agreement allows Codelco to gradually increase its stake in a public-private company, reaching 51% only after 2030. The negotiation, advised by the Carey law firm, has been criticized for potential conflicts of interest and for not aligning with the government's strategy to control lithium exploitation sooner. The terms appear to favor SQM, preventing competition for the exploitation rights and potentially not increasing state revenue compared to the current contract. The situation raises concerns about the transparency of the negotiations and the management of Codelco, which is also facing criticism for its economic performance and decisions such as purchasing shares of a company with questionable assets.