12:22 PM EDT, 08/12/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Albemarle's (ALB) La Negra lithium processing plant is operating normally after a lawmaker who represents the Antofagasta, Chile, region where it is located said authorities were probing an accident that had occurred there recently, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.

The lawmaker, Jaime Araya, requested Chile's mining regulator and labor office last week to inspect the site after getting a complaint about the bursting of a pipe that contained acid, the report said.

Araya told Reuters he was informed about the opening of the probe by the labor inspector's office, according to the report.

Such investigations are standard procedure, a source familiar with the company's operations reportedly said, while another source reportedly said that only one tank was affected by the problem.

The labor inspector's office couldn't give information as the matter was being reviewed, the report said.

Albemarle didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Price: 79.39, Change: -1.37, Percent Change: -1.70