Argentina to start 8 new lithium projects by 2030

: Metals
26/04/14

Argentinian and foreign companies will commission eight new, greenfield lithium projects by 2030, more than doubling the country's installed production capacity.

Argentina will add eight new brine-based lithium projects in the next four years, bringing the country's total installed production capacity to 409,000 metric tonnes (t) of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by year-end 2030, according to estimates by Argentina's mining secretary Luis Lucero at a market event in Chile on 13 March.

The figure, which represents a 157pc increase from this year's 159,000t LCE guidance, would consolidate Argentina as one of the world's leading lithium producers.

Two projects are set to be commissioned in the coming months: Galan Lithium's 8,000t/yr Hombre Muerto West (HMW) lithium chloride project and Rio Tinto's 15,000t/yr Sal de Vida lithium carbonate development.

Rio Tinto will also inaugurate, in 2028, Argentina's largest individual lithium project, Rincón, set to add 60,000t/yr LCE to the country's production capacity.

Three new projects will also debut in 2029, two of them owned by producers not yet established in Latin America. A joint venture (JV) between Revotech Asia and Xizang Zhufeng Resources will commission the 10,000t/yr LCE Sal de Los Ángeles project, while Argosy Minerals will start-up its 12,000t/yr Rincón operation — not to be confused with Rio Tinto's. A JV between Ganfeng Lithium and Lithium Argentina will also comission their PPG projects in 2029, which have a combined nameplate capacity of 150,000t/yr LCE.

Lake Resources and Lithium Chile will follow in 2030 with their Kachi and Arizaro projects, expected to add 25,000t/yr each to Argentina's capacity.

All eight projects will, in total, add 305,000t/yr LCE of installed production capacity. Argentina's actual production will be much lower, however, as brine projects usually take well over a year to ramp-up to full capacity.

Argentina has seven commercially producing lithium projects, in addition to the above-mentioned eight, which are in advanced stages.

Argentina's incentive regime focuses on lithium

At least two of those projects have already been approved to participate in Argentina's incentive regime for large investments (Rigi), and two additional developments have already applied to it.

Argentina's Rigi grants benefits to approved participants, including exemptions from value-added and import–export taxes, as well as legal protections that allow companies to settle disputes in courts outside Argentina. It also guarantees 30 years of legal stability, ensuring that these benefits cannot be revoked by any future president during that period.

Rio Tinto's Rincón and Galán's HMW have already been selected to the Rigi, while Lithium Argentina-Ganfeng's PPG and Rio's Sal de Vida are awaiting approval.

In total, 10 lithium projects have applied to Rigi, with three approvals. The developments will invest a combined $14bn in Argentinian lithium production.

By Pedro Consoli

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26/04/14

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26/04/13

China's CATL, Jianlong to scale truck electrification

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US inflation quickens to 3.3pc in March, gasoline soars

26/04/10

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Argentina sanctions glacier-protection reform

26/04/09

Argentina sanctions glacier-protection reform

Sao Paulo, 9 April (Argus) — Argentina's lower house has approved a wide-reaching reform to the country's glacier-protection law, which is expected to give a major boost to its copper industry. Argentina's lower house approved a reform that allows Argentinian provinces to decide which glaciers are important to their water resources and which are not. The "non-functional" glaciers would then be allowed to become mining sites, mostly benefiting copper mining. The approval was widely expected after the country's senate cleared the reform on 27 February. President Javier Milei strongly backed the reform, which ensured that his party and allies that usually side with the administration in big votes made up the necessary majority in both the Senate and in the lower house. The bill was approved late on 8 April by a 137-111 vote, with three abstentions. The bill needed 126 votes to pass. It is only a matter of time before Milei officially promulgates the law reform. The updated legislation is expected to be a major boost to Argentina's stagnant copper-mining industry , as several resources of the red metal are found within the glaciers' perimeters. The country's mining secretary released a report in early February forecasting that Argentina would account for 6.1pc of world' copper production by 2035 at over 1.5mn metric tonnes (t)/yr. This projection now becomes possible after the reform. Argentina's 20 most-advanced copper projects represent a combined $21.9bn in investment, and all are now positioned to significantly expand their resource bases as operators are permitted to work within glacier perimeters. Most of the country's copper reserves lie along the Andes mountain range on the border with Chile — an area that, on the Argentine side, is extensively glaciated. The reform, coupled with Argentina's intentions to bolster its incentive regime for large investments, could attract new foreign investment to the country's copper industry. Despite having 116mn t of copper resources, it was only able to export $4bn of the metal last year — while Chile, which is located on the other side of the Andes, sold $50bn, according to Milei. Javier Milei's office celebrated the approval, saying the reform eliminates "ideological distortions and artificial obstacles that hampered progress". His office had previously stated that the law, in its original form, allowed for misinterpretation that created legal uncertainty, curtailed investments and deprived provinces the right to regulate their natural resources. The original law, among other restrictions, forbade mineral exploration and extraction within the glaciers' perimeters, which was then set by the Argentinian institute of nivology, glaciology and environmental sciences (IANIGLA) based on unclear criteria, Milei said on 14 November. Major backlash ensues Changes to the glacier-protection law have caused a major backlash from political adversaries of Milei and the general public in Argentina. Greenpeace activists carried out peaceful protests in front of the lower house building, in Buenos Aires, and clashed with the police. Congress members, lawmakers and environmental organizations that oppose the reform all agree that easing the protection of glaciers could threaten Argentina's water security. Greenpeace said during the 8 April protests that this would be opening a path to destroy most of Argentina's glacial environment, putting the country's water security at risk. The glaciers' meltwater regulates rivers all across the country and serves as the primary feedstock for several agricultural projects. "We demand that this reform does not move forward, as it puts Argentina's main drinking water reserves at risk," Greenpeace said in a statement. Nevertheless, the reform was approved, and its supporters insist that no province will permit glaciers vital to the nation's water resources to be turned into mining sites, which remains to be seen. By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

South Korea's Kia cuts 2030 EV sales target

26/04/09

South Korea's Kia cuts 2030 EV sales target

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