At thousands of meters above sea level, where the air becomes rarer, an industrial advance has discreetly taken place. In this key region of the energy transition, a European company has taken a strategic step, offering a glimpse into the future of electromobility.
Lithium: a key resource for an increasingly electric world
Often nicknamed “white gold”, lithium has become one of the pillars of the global energy transition. This light metal is essential for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries, omnipresent in electric vehicles and electronic devices.. With demand expected to triple by 2030, controlling its extraction and transformation is a geopolitical and environmental issue.
Eramet did not follow the traditional path of lithium extraction. The direct extraction technology developed by the group stands out for its efficiency and low environmental impact. Unlike traditional methods which require massive evaporation and consume significant quantities of water, this innovative method relies on brine filtration. Result ? Faster, cleaner production that is perfectly adapted to the requirements of new generation batteries.
« The start of our lithium production in Centenario in Argentina marks a key step for the group's diversification into energy transition metals, making Eramet the first European company to produce lithium carbonate on an industrial scale », explains to The Echoes Christel Bories, general director of Eramet.
Centenario: an impressive site
Located at an altitude of 4,000 meters in the Argentine province of Salta, the Centenario-Ratones salar contains resources estimated at 15 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). With an average concentration of 407 mg/L, it is among the most promising deposits in the world. The brand new factory, built in less than three years, is already capable of producing 24,000 tonnes per year and aims to ramp up to 75,000 tonnes in the coming decades.
The first production marks the start of a much larger strategy. By purchasing the share of its former Chinese partner, Eramet affirms its ambition to become a key player in the lithium value chain, while diversifying its activities. With this vision focused on sustainability and a strengthened presence in South America, Eramet seems ready to meet the challenges of international competition and transform its local success into global leadership.
A reaction? Leave a comment
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our free newsletter for engaging articles, exclusive content and the latest news.
