Company: SQM
Filing Date: 2025-04-24
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0000909037-25-000020
Chunk: 68

Company: CHEMICAL & MINING CO OF CHILE INC
Filing Date: 2025-04-24
Form: 20-F
Item: Item 4
Chunk 68
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ine at our facilities at Nueva Victoria, Pedro de Valdivia and Pampa Blanca (iodide solutions). Iodine is extracted from solutions produced by leaching caliche ore.
As in the case of nitrates, the process of extracting iodine from the caliche ore is well established, but variations in the iodine and other chemical contents of the treated ore and other operating parameters require a high level of know-how to manage the process effectively and efficiently.
The solutions resulting from the leaching of caliche ore carry iodine in iodate form. Part of the iodate solution is reduced to iodide using sulfur dioxide, which is produced by burning sulfur. The resulting iodide is combined with the rest of the untreated iodate solution to release elemental iodine in low concentrations. The iodine is then extracted from the aqueous solutions and concentrated in iodide form using a solvent extraction and stripping plant in the Pedro de Valdivia and Nueva Victoria facilities and using a blow out plant in the Iris facility. The concentrated iodide is oxidized to metallic iodine, which is then refined through a smelting process and prilled. We have obtained patents in the United States and Chile (Chilean patent number 47,080) for our iodine prilling process.
Prilled iodine is tested for quality control purposes, using international standard procedures. It is then packed in 20 to 50-kilogram drums or 350-to-700-kilogram maxi bags and transported by truck to Antofagasta, Mejillones, or Iquique for export. Our iodine and iodine derivatives production facilities have been certified by TÜV-Rheinland under the ISO 9001:2015 program, providing third-party certification of our quality management system. The last recertification process was approved in November 2022, valid through March 2026.
Our total iodine production in 2024 was 13,101 metric tons predominately from our Nueva Victoria facility. We have the flexibility to adjust our production according to market conditions.
Tente en el Aire iodine plant (module 4), has a capacity of 6,000 metric tons of iodide per year and will allow us to process an additional of 1,300 m3/h of iodate solutions. The construction was completed by the end of 2024. This additional volume will requiere additional water consumption, which will be provided by the new seawater pipeline. Currently, our biggest