Russian state nuclear power plant giant Rosatom sent lobbyists to meet with the Chilean government and discuss "collaboration in possible lithium projects," a government website revealed at the weekend.
Four representatives of the company met with Mining Deputy Minister Igancio Moreno in September, according to information published on the government's lobbying transparent website.
Rosatom has signed billions of dollars worth of overseas contracts and is seen as a tool for Russia to wield political influence abroad. This year, it signed a contract to build a nuclear research center in Chile's neighbour Bolivia. It also has interests in several other Latin American countries.
Chile itself has no nuclear power plants and is not expected to build any, as it is one of the world's most seismically active countries and is regularly shaken by strong earthquakes.