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Mining giant Rio Tinto says it is looking to expand its production of battery-grade lithium carbonate to 60,000 tonnes per year at the project in Salta province. London-based mining company Rio Tinto, part of the Rio Tinto Group, has announced it will invest $2.5 billion to expand its Rincon project in Argentinas Salta province, billed as the companys first commercial-scale lithium operation, with the goal of reaching a capacity of 60,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate per year. The aim is to expand the current 3,000-tonne plant to an additional 57,000 tonnes of annual production, with construction of the new facility expected to begin in mid-2025, the statement said. The report adds that the expected life of the Rincón mine is 40 years, with first production in 2028, “followed by a three-year ramp-up to full capacity, which will generate significant job creation and economic opportunities for local businesses.” At the beginning of 2022, Río Tinto acquired the Rincón project, located in the Puna region of Salta, with an investment of 825 million dollars. In January of this year, the provincial Ministry of Mining and Energy announced the approval of the Environmental Impact Statement . The Rincón project is located in the heart of Argentinas lithium triangle, a geographic area on the border between Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, which contains more than 50% and 60% of the worlds known lithium reserves. It involves brine extraction using a field of production wells, processing and waste facilities, and associated infrastructure. The project, it is claimed, uses direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, a process that favors water conservation, reduces waste, and produces lithium carbonate more consistently than other methods. |
