Argentina’s first plant for lithium batteries is set to begin operations in September, mining officials stated on Saturday. The plant will produce lithium batteries using metal extracted locally by U.S. company Livent Corp.
“We will start to produce the first lithium-ion battery cells in the country,” said Roberto Salvarezza, president of Y-TEC – a unit of Argentina’s state oil firm YPF. He confirmed the company’s use of lithium carbonate extracted by Livent in northern Argentina.
Argentina’s Mining Minister Fernanda Avila expressed optimism for the project, expressing her hopes for it to be a leading example for future mining and production projects. She claimed that developing supply around mining activity is a priority for Argentina’s government.
Currently the fourth largest producer of lithium in the world, Argentina has been attracting an increasing volume of investment for activities in this sector. Along with Bolivia and Chile, Argentina makes up what has become known as the “lithium triangle” of South America, which holds the world’s largest volume of ultra-light metal, commonly used in batteries.