Argentina’s lithium business – level 3

Argentina s lithium business

15-07-2024 07:00

In northern Argentina, a project is underway to support green energy.

On a dusty plain in Salta, black tubes fill a large tank with salty brine taken from deep underground. This brine contains lithium, a crucial metal for making electric vehicle batteries. The French company Aramet is using a new method called Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) to produce lithium more efficiently and with less water. Unlike traditional methods, this process doesn’t use large evaporation pools. Jean-Baptiste Ort, head of Aramet’s lithium business, claims that DLE will recover 90% of the lithium, compared to 40-50% with older methods. While the technology is new and being closely watched by competitors, Aramet plans to produce its first ton of lithium carbonate in November and aims to reach 24,000 metric tons annually by mid-2025. This could help Argentina compete with Chile, Latin America’s leading lithium producer.

Despite a global oversupply of lithium that has lowered prices, Aramet’s CEO believes the company can still profit.

Difficult words: brine (water with salt in it), evaporation (the process of turning from liquid into gas).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.

What is the projected annual production goal for Aramet's lithium business and how does it compare to Chile's current production levels?

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