The Argentinean government expects to have its first lithium ion battery plant up and running by September, using lithium carbonate extracted and processed locally by US mining company Livent Corporation.
According to local reports, the battery cell plant is being built by YPF Tecnologia (Y-TEC), a subsidiary of state owned energy and chemicals firm YPF as the country adds value to its abundant lithium reserves.
Argentina is part of South America’s lithium triangle, along with Chile and Bolivia, and is estimated to have the world’s fourth largest lithium reserves.
Y-TEC’s president and CEO, Roberto Salvarezza, said in a statement: “We will start to produce the first lithium ion battery cells in the country”.
The plant was originally scheduled to begin production last year, but has been delayed. It was unclear who would be the end user of the batteries, or for which applications they would be used.
A number of domestic and international mining companies have lithium extraction projects under way in Argentina, including China’s Ganfeng Lithium, Livent, Lithium Americas and Lithium South Development.
Argentina’s mining minister Fernanda Avila said she hoped the new battery plant would be an example for others to follow, adding “the development of the supply around mining activity is a priority for our government”.
