Argentina's lithium exports could be four times higher than current ones

There are two lithium mines operating in the country with a combined installed capacity of 42,000 tonnes of equivalent ore (LCE).

"If the plans for expansion in these mines were realized and from the start of new lithium projects, Argentina would reach an installed capacity of 129,000 tons of LCE in 2022," they said.

They added that "a ton of lithium metal (Li) equals 5,323 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (ECL)".

"Currently, lithium mining projects in 23 salt mines located in the territory of Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca have been set up in Argentina," they said.

Of these projects, only Olaroz in Jujuy province and Fénix in Catamarca are already in the production phase. The latter is operated by the American Livent Corp and has an installed capacity of 22,000 t LCE.

Olaroz is in charge of the Australian mining company Orocobre, the Japanese Toyota and the national national company JEMSE (state-owned company Jujuy Energy and Mining). Its installed capacity currently stands at 17,500 t LCE.

In addition, both mines have expansion plans to reach the installed capacity of 40,000 t LCE each: in the case of Olaroz, this goal should be reached in 2020 and at the Fénix mine in 2022.

On the other hand, Cauchari-Olaroz in Jujuy and Centenario-Ratones in Salta are under construction. The first is being developed by the Canadian Litium Americas, Chinese Ganfeng and JEMSE, and is scheduled to enter service in 2020 with an installed capacity of 25,000 t LCE.

EThe project Centenario Ratones, led by the French Eramet, aims to start its activities in 2021 with an installed capacity of 20,000 t LCE.

In addition, the feasibility test of the process concerns five companies: Los Ángeles Sal, Sal de Vida, Salar del Rincón, Pastos Grandes and Tres Quebradas.

Meanwhile, Argentine exports of lithium carbonate have tripled its value over the past 10 years, "totaling about 251 million US dollars in 2018," it was reported.

"The main destinations of these offices are the United States, Japan, China and South Korea.Exports of lithium derivatives showed an excellent performance, their volume having increased by 50% over the last decade ( 2008-2018) ", indicated in the BCR.

The product with the largest participation in the complex's offices is lithium carbonate, which serves as an input to many industries.