Lithium is one of Sergio Massa’s fuels for commissioning the Dollar factory, and it was one of the pivots of the bilateral meeting that President Alberto Fernández called his Bolivian counterpart Luis Arce during his visit to Colombia for the Assumption of Gustavo Petro. was organized with there are 50 lithium projects in various stages of exploration and development in the country, and the only two projects to produce: What is expected of this resource?
Argentina has two mining projects that produce lithium, in Jujuy and Catamarca. There are about 50 that are in the exploration stage, that is, to confirm the effective existence of minerals and to determine the quantity and quality of existing reserves in different locations, seven of which will enter the production stage in the coming years.
According to information received from the Ministry of Mines, the two active projects will produce 37,000 tonnes of Lithium Carbonate this year. The introduction of Kauchari Olaros in Jujuy could increase that number to 80,000 tonnes by the beginning of 2023, with estimates projected to increase even more in 2024. The account they make in the government is that with these developments Argentina Lithium exports could increase from $200 million in 2021 to $4,000 million annually in six years,
“The joint development of lithium allows us to provide added value for exports and promote the training of technicians and scientists. Argentina, Bolivia and Chile make up the Lithium Triangle, a fundamental area for our development for which we continue to work Will keep,” he published in his social network president Fernandez after meeting with Arce.
All projects are located in the Lithium Triangle made up of three countries, which concentrates 50 percent of the worldwide reserves of this mineral. Bolivia is the country with the most reserves in the world, with over 21 million tonnes, Argentina’s 14.8 million tonnes and Chile’s 8.3 million tonnes. Then there are the United States and Australia.
projects
There are two active projects Exploited by Salar Olaroj Jujuy salts, Integrated by Orocobre SA (Canada), Toyota Tsusho Corp (Japan) and Jujuy Energia y Mineria Sociedad del Estado (James), the province’s state mining company; and project Phoenix at Salar del Hombre MuertoCatamarca. operate in by Livent, a subsidiary of American FMC.
The closest project to go into production is in Jujuy and is Powered by Kauchari Olaroj, Minera Exaro, a firm where Canadian Lithium America and Chinese Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium each hold 45.75 percent shares and James with the remaining 8.5 percent. The project will start commercial use at the end of 2022 and will be capable of producing 40,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year with full utilization of its installed capacity.
In Salta, the advanced project is Century-Mice by French Ermine, It will produce 24,000 tonnes per year from the beginning of 2024. In the second phase, it plans to produce between 60,000 and 70,000 tonnes per year.
Another advanced project is Puna Mining at Salar del Rincono, In theory, lithium carbonate would have a production capacity of 2,000 tonnes per year, with projections scaling up to 12,000 tonnes per year. also advanced in the province Mariana Project (Lulillaco Salt Lake) operated by Gunfeng China, The construction of the pilot plant has started.
Catamarca currently offers four projects under exploration but nearing lithium production. three bays Chinese company Liex . Powered by Laguna Tres in Quebradas, It plans to start production of lithium in 2024 and the first exports in 2024, with an estimate of 20,000 tonnes per year for 20 years.
In Salar del Hombre is Muerto Sal de Oros, operated by Posco of South Korea. By the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, the project will have a production capacity of 25,000 tons of lithium hydroxide per year.
a little less advanced salt of lifeoperated by australian everything (Companies in the process of merging Orocobre and Galaxy Resources, also from that country) Seek investors to finance the construction of a production plantwho will ask 18 months,
