Wealth Minerals Partners with Indigenous Community in Historic…

First mining project in Chile to integrate indigenous community into ownership.
Kuska Minerals subsidiary formed with the Quechua Indigenous Community.
Marcelo Awad elected chairman of the new board at Kuska Minerals.
Company awaits crucial Special Lithium Operating Contract from Ministry of Mining.
Community representation on the Kuska board aims for sustainable practice.

Indigenous Community Representation in Mining Board is Historic

Breaking New Ground for Indigenous Involvement in Mining— Wealth Minerals has established a new subsidiary known as Kuska Minerals SpA, marking a significant move forward in the lithium sector. Partnering with the Quechua Indigenous Community from Ollague, this venture aims to develop the Kuska lithium project located in Chile. The recently formed board convened for their first meeting, appointing Marcelo Awad as chairman and ensuring representation from the Ollague community through Victor Nina Huanca, who was designated by the community’s members. This incorporation of indigenous leadership adds a historic layer to mining operations within the region, fostering a closer partnership between local communities and mining entities.

Certification and Project Progress Awaiting Government Approval

In a landscape often criticized for excluding local voices, Kuska Minerals takes the first step towards integrating such perspectives directly into project management. The newly created entity awaits the Special Lithium Operating Contract (CEOL) from the Ministry of Mining, which is still undergoing a process of indigenous consultation. With this approval, Kuska intends to kick off its second exploration campaign and initiate pre-feasibility studies alongside an environmental impact assessment. This process is critical in ensuring that the project aligns with community standards and environmental expectations, which have often been overlooked in previous mining initiatives. The board members recognized this historical moment and have expressed their commitment to transparency and sustainability, showing community support at the forefront of development.

Project Aims for Economic Growth and Environmental Stewardship

The Kuska project is set on a 10,200 hectare site in the Salar de Ollague area of Antofagasta Region, regarded as a promising locale for lithium extraction. Since 2019, Wealth Minerals has undertaken significant steps in exploration that culminated in an initial resource estimate in January 2023 under Canadian NI 43-101 guidelines. This estimate included an impressive 741,000 tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) at varying averages of concentration. Henk van Alphen, CEO of Wealth and a board member at Kuska, recently stated that their relationship with the Ollague community goes back over five years, preparing for a venture steeped in mutual benefit. The biggest hope right now is that the permitting process, particularly the CEOL, moves along swiftly so that they can continue forward with their exploration initiatives and ultimately contribute to the region’s economic growth while preserving its environment.

Wealth Minerals has established Kuska Minerals in partnership with the Quechua Indigenous Community of Ollague to develop the Kuska lithium project, marking a first in Chile by integrating local community ownership into mining operations. With the formation of the project’s board, including both indigenous and company representatives, the focus is now on securing the necessary permits to move forward, conduct further exploratory work, and start pre-feasibility and impact studies. The venture signifies a historical milestone in indigenous representation within the mining industry, as community members are directly involved in decision-making processes that foster both economic benefits and environmental considerations.