Eramet inaugurates direct lithium extraction plant in Argentina

The inauguration by Christel Bories, Chair and CEO of Eramet, was executed in the presence of Gustavo Saenz, Governor of Salta Region, Diana Mondino, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Argentina, Luis Lucero, Mining Federal Secretary of the Republic of Argentina and Benjamin Gallezot French Interministerial Delegate on Strategic Metals and Minerals. This industrial flagship is operated by Eramine, a joint venture owned by Eramet (50.1%) and its partner Tsingshan (49.9%).

This ceremony launches the start of the commissioning of the plant designed to extract lithium from the salar brine and process it into battery-grade lithium carbonate, required for the electric vehicles value chain.

The start of production is planned in November 2024. Ramp-up is expected to be achieved by mid 2025. At full capacity, the Centenario Phase 1 plant will produce 24 000 tpa battery-grade lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), equivalent to the requirements for 600 000 electric vehicles a year. Production will be very limited in 2024.

The Centenario-Ratones deposit is one of the most attractive salars in Argentina, located in Latin America’s ‘lithium triangle’ (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile). Eramet’s extraction rights are covered by a single concession of 560 km², for which the Group owns perpetual mining rights. The drainable mineral resources amount to more than 15 million t of LCE, with an average concentration of 407 mg/L of lithium contained in the brine, supporting further capacity expansion.

Christel Bories, Group Chair and CEO, said: “With the start of our first Centenario plant, Eramet will become a key global player in the sustainable production of lithium, a critical metal for the batteries of electric vehicles. This inauguration confirms our technological and sustainable leadership across the entire lithium value chain, from exploration to extraction and processing. This success is the result of a collective achievement, combining the expertise and commitment of our teams, our partnership with Tsingshan, the support of Argentina’s regional and national authorities and a strong and respectful relationship built with local communities since the start of the project. The lithium produced by Eramet in Centenario, with the objective of meeting the IRMA responsible mining standard, will be much valuable for our customers.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/05072024/eramet-inaugurates-direct-lithium-extraction-plant-in-argentina/