SANTIAGO, March 21 (Reuters) - Chile's SQM

plans to transfer mining concessions from its lithium-rich

Maricunga salt flat to state-run copper producer Codelco as part

of a new partnership, the company said on Thursday.

The plans were still under discussion and have not been

finalized, SQM said in a statement following a shareholders

meeting.

SQM and Codelco hammered out a preliminary agreement in

December in line with a government mandate to boost state

control over the lithium industry in Chile, which is the world's

second-largest producer of the metal that is essential for

electric vehicle batteries.

The companies were set to announce final terms this month,

but on Wednesday extended that deadline to the end of May.

Thursday's shareholders meeting was held at the request of

China's Tianqi Lithium Corp., a major shareholder.

SQM told shareholders that it plans to make public all

information related to the economic value of the partnership

with Codelco prior to signing contracts, according to the

statement.

Among the expected terms of the agreement, SQM said it plans

to transfer to Codelco its mining concessions and other rights

in Maricunga, a salt flat that has yet to yield commercial

production for lithium.

SQM said it also plans to transfer all assets, contracts,

employees and subsidiaries in the Atacama salt flat, where it

currently operates, to the joint venture.

The agreement with Codelco will allow SQM to continue to

operate in the Atacama salt flat from 2031 to 2060, it said.