Chilean lithium giant SQM says its takeover of Azure Minerals won’t be its last push into Australia as it expressed confidence that a commodity price recovery would bolster future returns from its new Mt Holland lithium partnership with Wesfarmers.

SQM chief executive Ricardo Ramos described Australia as the next global lithium bowl, and flagged “aggressive” ongoing investment in the country over coming years at the opening for the Mt Holland Mine 400 kilometres east of Perth on Thursday.