SANTIAGO, March 19 (Reuters) - Novandino Litio, the

joint venture between Chile's Codelco and SQM

, will submit the environmental impact study for its

Salar Futuro lithium project in June, local media reported on

Thursday.

-- The project is estimated to cost between $2 billion and

$3.5 billion.

-- Salar Futuro aims to produce 280,000 to 300,000 metric

tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) annually.

-- Codelco Chairman Maximo Pacheco told journalists that

Salar Futuro represents the most important challenge for the

partnership.

-- Codelco's 2026 copper production will exceed 2025 levels,

Pacheco said.

-- He acknowledged it was "perhaps an error" to tackle four

megaprojects simultaneously at Codelco, calling it a "titanic

task."

-- Pacheco is set to leave his role on May 25. He ruled out

leaving the position early.