SANTIAGO, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Albemarle said on Wednesday

it completed the validation of its direct lithium extraction

(DLE) pilot plant in Chile, allowing the company to finalize its

design of a future commercial facility and proceed to

environmental review.

The U.S. company is one of two lithium miners in Chile,

which is the world's second-largest producer of the metal that

is key for electric vehicle batteries.

BY THE NUMBERS

-- Lithium recovery exceeded 94% during stable operation.

-- The pilot plant ran for over 3,000 hours, equivalent to

more than 90 consecutive days.

-- Water reuse reached up to 85% during the validation phase.

-- Albemarle allocated $30 million to the pilot plant and

another $216 million to a salt recovery plant in the Atacama

salt flat.