Global miner Rio Tinto will tackle one of the biggest technological challenges in the lithium industry as it takes the lead in Chile's first major projects involving the battery metal in years, alongside state-run mining companies Codelco and ENAMI.

Rio Tinto has signed binding agreements with Chilean state-owned copper mining company Codelco to establish a joint venture (JV) to develop the Salar de Maricunga lithium project in Chile by investing up to $900m (£672.

Rio Tinto has been named the preferred development partner for the Salares Altoandinos lithium project in Chile by Empresa Nacional de Minería (ENAMI).