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 project involving the battery metal in years, alongside state-run copper producer Codelco.

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.

Anglo-Australian miner doubles down on critical mineral buying almost 50 per cent stake in partnership with Codelco