The Puna, the Atacama Desert in Chile, and the Bolivian Altiplano make up what is known as the “lithium triangle,” which contains 65 percent of the world’s known reserves. In July 2022, Argentina had approved thirty-eight lithium extraction projects, though only two were in operation. Two years later, five companies were actively extracting and exporting lithium. In April 2024, President Javier Milei posed for a photo with Elon Musk, both giving thumbs up from Tesla’s giant factory in Austin, Texas, where Milei assured Musk that there would be no government obstacles to future extraction of this strategic mineral.

The world demands lithium for batteries. A reporter explores how this has impacted locals in the salt flats.