With the presence of the Governor of Salta, Gustavo Sáenz, Eramine Sudamérica, a subsidiary of the French group Eramet (50.1%) and its Chinese partner Tsingshan (49.9%), inaugurated its lithium carbonate production plant this Wednesday. This marks the first of its kind in the region and the first project to enter the production phase in Salta. Additionally, it is the fourth producer in the country following in the footsteps of Olaroz and Fénix mines by Arcadium Lithium, and the Cauchari-Olaroz deposit operated by Lithium Argentina.
By Panorama Minero
During the inauguration ceremony, French businesswoman Christel Bories, CEO of Eramet, underscored the company's role in lithium production, an essential resource for electric vehicle batteries: "This inauguration confirms our technological and sustainable leadership across the entire lithium value chain, from exploration to processing." Bories highlighted the comprehensive collaboration that enabled this achievement, including the support from local and national authorities, as well as the constructive relationship with local communities since the project's inception. "The lithium produced at Centenario will adhere to the IRMA standard and promises to be highly valued by our customers," she added.
Jing Li, President of Tsingshan, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership in lithium development in the Argentine Salar: "This success reinforces our cooperation in energy metals and strengthens the green energy industrial chain that we are jointly building."
The mine is located at an altitude of 4,000 meters in the Salar Centenario Ratones, Los Andes department, 75 kilometers from the town of Santa Rosa de los Pastos Grandes and near San Antonio de los Cobres, a local community with approximately 300 inhabitants.
After 12 years of research and feasibility studies, the plant achieved its first production with the goal of scaling up production by November and reaching full capacity by 2025, when annual production of up to 24,000 tons is projected. The plant has a projected lifespan of 40 years, and its production will be exclusively destined for export, absorbed by its own shareholders.
In company specifications, Eramine South America's plant distinguishes itself with its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, achieving a yield of over 90% within 24 hours, in contrast to conventional methods relying on traditional evaporation ponds seen in most projects in Argentina and Chile. "This approach reflects technological investment aimed at efficient utilization of natural resources and environmental preservation," they noted.
Meanwhile, Alejandro Moro, CEO of Eramine, stated: "Our commitment is to produce lithium with maximum resource efficiency, thereby contributing to an environmentally respectful energy transition."
With an investment of US$800 million, the company plans to implement a second phase involving the construction of an additional plant with similar characteristics to the first, pending environmental impact studies and internal approval, potentially doubling the initial estimated production.
The Centenario lithium mine is now operational, the first to enter the production phase in Salta
