The French mining group completed the ramp-up of its Centenario-Ratones plant in 15 months, reaching monthly production of 2,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate in October. The company is now evaluating an expansion that would increase annual capacity from 24,000 to 35,000 tonnes by leveraging existing infrastructure.
Eramet Eramine reached nameplate production capacity at its Centenario-Ratones lithium project in Argentina's Salta province in October, completing the ramp-up of its lithium carbonate plant. The operation achieved monthly output of 2,000 tonnes, equivalent to an annual nameplate capacity of 24,000 tonnes, marking the beginning of a new phase for the French mining group as it considers expanding the facility.
By Panorama Minero
The milestone represents an operational advance for Eramet, which completed the ramp-up process in 15 months. By June 2026, the plant had reached 90% of its nameplate capacity, with the company initially expecting to achieve full capacity by year-end. However, operational progress enabled it to meet that target two months ahead of schedule.
Reaching nameplate capacity marks the completion of a particularly demanding phase for any lithium project: the transition from commissioning to stable production. During this period, operations must progressively optimize processes, equipment and production parameters to achieve the output levels established in the plant's design.
At Centenario-Ratones, this process is particularly relevant given the company's use of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, which selectively separates lithium from brine before converting it into lithium carbonate.
"Reaching 2,000 tonnes per month, 15 months after the start of ramp-up, is a very important milestone for our operation. Behind this achievement is a process of learning, overcoming challenges and, above all, a strong commitment from our teams. Today, we see that journey reflected in our production capacity, and we are taking a key step toward continued growth," said Guillermo Simonutti, Operations Director at Eramet Eramine.
October's performance confirms that the plant achieved its monthly nameplate production rate. This does not necessarily mean it produced 24,000 tonnes over the preceding 12 months, but rather that it reached a production rate equivalent to that annual capacity, an important indicator of operational progress.
Centenario-Ratones: Expansion Could Lift Capacity to 35,000 Tonnes
With the plant operating at nameplate capacity, Eramet Eramine is evaluating a first expansion of Centenario-Ratones that would add approximately 11,000 tonnes of annual lithium carbonate production capacity.
If implemented, installed capacity would increase from the current 24,000 tonnes to approximately 35,000 tonnes per year, representing an increase of nearly 46% over the original design.
The proposed expansion would leverage existing infrastructure and the operational experience gained during commissioning and stabilization. This approach would allow the company to pursue additional production capacity using an established industrial base rather than developing an entirely new facility.
According to information released by Eramet on October 1, the expansion has already completed its prefeasibility study, and the company is advancing detailed engineering work. The potential investment is estimated at US$350 million, subject to a final investment decision that, according to the Salta provincial government, could be made toward the end of 2027.
The company has also confirmed its intention to apply for inclusion under Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), which provides eligible investments with tax, customs and foreign-exchange benefits, as well as long-term regulatory stability.
From an economic perspective, the expansion aims to leverage existing facilities to reduce capital intensity per additional tonne of capacity. Eramet has stated that its objective is to strengthen Centenario-Ratones' position within the lowest-cost quartile of the global lithium industry.
Direct Lithium Extraction: An Industrial-Scale Operation
Centenario-Ratones is located approximately 3,800 meters above sea level in the high-altitude Puna region of Salta province and represents one of Eramet's main investments in its lithium business.
The plant began producing lithium carbonate in December 2024, following an initial investment estimated by the Salta provincial government at approximately US$870 million. During 2025, its first year of progressively increasing production, the operation produced approximately 6,700 tonnes of lithium carbonate, according to company figures.
One of the project's distinguishing features is its use of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology developed by Eramet. Unlike conventional methods that rely primarily on solar evaporation of brines, this process selectively separates lithium through adsorption technology before converting it into lithium carbonate.
Eramet reports lithium recovery rates exceeding 90% through its DLE process, with processing times of approximately one week. These company-reported technical indicators illustrate the technology's potential, although they do not replace a comprehensive assessment of operating costs, resource consumption and overall plant performance.
Centenario-Ratones also has a substantial resource base to support future development. Eramet estimates more than 15 million tonnes of LCE in extractable mineral resources, with an average lithium concentration of 407 milligrams per liter of brine.
The combination of resources, installed infrastructure and operational experience provides a platform for evaluating additional growth phases. In this context, reaching nameplate capacity at the initial plant represents an important step in moving beyond commissioning toward the next stage of the project's development.
From Project Development to Higher Lithium Production in Argentina
Progress at Centenario-Ratones comes as Argentina's lithium industry increasingly measures its performance not only by the number of projects under development, but also by its ability to translate investment into actual production growth.
In this environment, plant stabilization and the achievement of design capacity are particularly important. They provide a clearer measure of the industrial performance of completed investments and establish a more concrete foundation for future expansions.
For Eramet, the immediate priority is to sustain the production level reached in October while advancing engineering work and investment decisions for the next development phase.
The gap between installed capacity and actual production is one of the key variables in assessing the evolution of Argentina's lithium industry. At Centenario-Ratones, reaching 2,000 tonnes per month marks the achievement of an operational target and opens the possibility of another increase in production scale, subject to the investment decisions still ahead.
