The Centenario lithium project , led by the French company Eramet in collaboration with Tsingshan, successfully announces the first successful production results in the mining industry. This project has achieved a performance of 90% in the direct extraction of lithium carbonate, since the inauguration of the pilot plant, installed in mid-2020.
The phases of the Centenario Ratones lithium project
This project participates in one of the largest lithium deposits in the world, with reserves that could last 40 years and an estimated annual production of 24,000 tons of lithium carbonate. To this end, the Eramet company has implemented renewable energy strategies within the project, including the use of solar energy and a gas-based electricity supply plant.
One of its processes began at the end of 2021, with the construction of the production plant , with the participation of Tsingshan. And after that, the first units began to operate progressively from November 2023, with a global investment that reaches 1,000 million dollars. The company aims to expand production capacity to 75,000 tons annually through two development phases in planning.
The future production of lithium. Source: Eramet Group.
This 2024, Centenario Ratones estimates that it will become the fourth operational field in Argentina, joining other projects in Catamarca and Jujuy. With this project, Eramet seeks to cover a portion of the European demand for lithium, especially for electric vehicle batteries, and reaffirms its position in the global lithium market.
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Source and photo: Eramet