Argentina has tripled its lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) production capacity in the last two years, driven by new projects that have boosted installed capacity to 136,500 tons nationwide, according to the country’s Chamber of Mining Entrepreneurs (CAEM).
Argentina, the world’s fourth-largest lithium producer, now has four projects in production, including the Centenario Ratones plant in the northern province of Salta. The Centenario Ratones plant is a joint venture between France’s Eramet and Chinese steelmaker Tsingshan, and it aims to produce 24,000 tons per year of LCE by 2025.
The recent inauguration of the Centenario Ratones plant, the first lithium production plant in Salta, adds to a series of new projects and expansions that have tripled Argentina’s installed capacity in just two years. Production potential in Argentina went from 37,500 tons of LCE in 2022 to 136,500 tons, according to CAEM.
Argentina sits inside South America’s “lithium triangle” with Chile and Bolivia, and it is looking to increase its lithium output with a slate of new projects set to come online later this year. This expansion in production capacity is driven by the growing global demand for lithium, a key component in electric vehicle batteries.