SANTIAGO (Reuters) -Chilean authorities have opened an investigation into Albemarle's La Negra lithium processing plant following an accident reported last week, a local lawmaker told Reuters on Tuesday.

Lawmaker Jaime Araya, who represents the Antofagasta region where the plant is located, said he asked Chile's mining regulator and labor office to inspect the site last week after receiving a complaint that a pipe containing acid had burst.

Araya said he has been informed that the labor inspector's office had opened an investigation. A union leader for plant workers, Elias Torres, said he could not comment because an investigation was underway. 

The labor inspector's office said it could not provide information because the matter was under review. Albemarle did not immediately respond to questions about whether any operations had been suspended.