The new plant is located at an altitude of more than 3900 metres. The design is 100% Argentine. It is hoped that 1200 million pesos will be invested. The National Mining Secretary, Jorge Mayoral, along with the Governor of Salta Province, today led the opening of a new lithium carbonate processing plant in Salar del Rincón.

Source: DiarioC

20/03/2011. Attending the opening of the plant – located on the Puna plateau at more than 3900 metres above sea level – were the Governor of San Antonio de los Cobres, Guzmán Viveros, local officials, representatives from AOMA (Argentine Mining Labour Association), workers, business leaders and senior representatives from the operator, ADY Resources.

Salar del Rincón is the highest project of its kind, located at more than 3900 metres above sea level; it is situated about 150 km from the nearest town of San Antonio de Cobres on the Puna plateau, close to the border with Chile.

The lithium plant occupies more than 3000m², making it the largest in the world, and was designed entirely in Argentina. The mineral will be processed for the eventual production of lithium carbonate.

Around 300 million pesos (about US$75 million) has already been invested in the project with a further 1200 million (US$300 million) expected. The operator, ADY Resources, has committed both Argentine and Australian capital.

Salar del Rincón will create 110 new local jobs in one of the highest and remotest places in the whole of Argentina. Mayoral underlined the importance of this type of venture for the creation of employment and the development of basic infrastructure in one of the most forgotten landscapes in the country.

Lithium is used in the production of rechargeable batteries, which do not harm the environment and help to prevent global warming.

Lithium is considered a strategic mineral in the development of new digital technologies since it is a major component of rechargeable batteries, which provide energy without impacting on the environment and help prevent an increase in global warming.

It is notable that, of the 10 million tonnes of lithium reserves that exist on the planet, around 9 million are located in Latin America, principally Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.

Argentina exports lithium to the US, Britain, Germany, China, Russia, Japan and the Netherlands. In 2008, more than 3200 tonnes were exported. This means the Latin America supplies more than 55% of the lithium used by industry around the world.