sigh, from the article: 1) the article does NOT reference the beginning of mining in 2023/2024, but the construction by the Chinese of new plants with different extraction policies. If you had read it, you would know that, assuming basic English comprehension 2) quoting: "The South American landlocked country has a history of unfulfilled lithium dreams. It has tried and failed to develop its industry several times since the 1990s, producing an accumulated 1,400 tonnes since 2018."
THis means they have tried to mine it since the 1990s, used wells, had ponds but got no Lithium, or very little, until fairly recently
Is English your first language?
Yes. Is it yours? Do you understand the word "significant"?
Do you understand the concept of "unfulfilled lithium dreams"?
You wrote this: It has tried and failed to develop its industry several times since the 1990s, producing an accumulated 1,400 tonnes since 2018."