Eramet Inaugurates Its Direct Lithium Extraction Plant in Argentina

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Turning into the primary European firm to supply battery-grade lithium carbonate at industrial scale

• Begin of the commissioning of the Centenario direct lithium extraction plant, positioned in Salta Province, Argentina; first manufacturing deliberate in November 2024
• A key milestone in Eramet’s strategic improvement into producing metals for power transition
• A technological achievement at 4,000 m of altitude, implementing at industrial scale one of the vital superior Direct Lithium Extraction (‘DLE’) course of, developed in-house
• Centenario Part 1 is designed to extract and produce 24,000 t/yr (on a 100% foundation) of battery-grade lithium carbonate at full capability, and ought to be positioned within the 1^st quartile of the lithium trade cost-curve
• A venture developed in accordance with probably the most stringent requirements of sustainable mining, in accordance with our Act for Optimistic Mining roadmap

With the beginning of our first Centenario plant, Eramet will grow to be a key international participant within the sustainable manufacturing of lithium, a vital steel for the batteries of electrical automobiles.

This inauguration confirms our technological and sustainable management throughout the complete lithium worth chain, from exploration to extraction and processing.

This success is the results of a collective achievement, combining the experience and dedication of our groups, our partnership with Tsingshan, the help of Argentina’s regional and nationwide authorities and a robust and respectful relationship constructed with native communities for the reason that begin of the venture.

The lithium produced by Eramet in Centenario, with the target of assembly the IRMA accountable mining commonplace, will probably be a lot useful for our clients.

Christel Bories
Group Chair and CEO

A key milestone in Eramet’s improvement in direction of metals for the power transition

Christel Bories, Chair and CEO of Eramet, has inaugurated right this moment the Centenario Part 1 lithium carbonate manufacturing plant within the presence of Gustavo Saenz, Governor of Salta Area, Diana Mondino, Minister of International Affairs of the Republic of Argentina, Luis Lucero, Mining Federal Secretary of the Republic of Argentina and Benjamin Gallezot French Interministerial Delegate on Strategic Metals and Minerals. This industrial flagship is operated by Eramine, a three way partnership owned by Eramet (50.1%) and its accomplice Tsingshan (49.9%).

In the present day’s ceremony launches the beginning of the commissioning of the plant designed to extract lithium from the salar brine and course of it into battery-grade lithium carbonate, required for the electrical automobiles worth chain.

The beginning of manufacturing is deliberate in November 2024. Ramp-up is predicted to be achieved by mid-2025. At full capability, the Centenario Part 1 plant will produce 24,000 t/yr¹ battery-grade lithium carbonate equal (‘LCE’), equal to the necessities for 600,000 electrical automobiles/yr. Manufacturing will probably be very restricted in 2024.

The full quantity of funding for Centenario Part 1 is forecast to be round $870m¹. At full capability, the money value for Part 1 ought to be positioned within the first quartile of the trade value curve (estimated at round $4,500 to $5,000/t-LCE), and the annual EBITDA is estimated at between $210 and $315 million¹, based mostly on a long-term worth assumption of between $15,000 and $20,000/t-LCE.

In November 2023, Eramet’s Board of Administrators conditionally accepted the funding determination for a second plant at Centenario, representing an extra 30,000t-LCE per yr¹. This approval stays topic to the obtention of development permits in addition to to the implementation of the brand new funding fiscal regime for big tasks[1] at Federal stage, as this regime would improve Centenario Part 2 economics and financing situations.

A big useful resource, long-life, high-grade, scalable brine deposit

The Centenario-Ratones deposit is without doubt one of the most tasty salars in Argentina, positioned in Latin America’s ‘lithium triangle’ (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile). Eramet’s extraction rights are coated by a single concession of 560 km², for which the Group owns perpetual mining rights.

The drainable mineral assets quantity to greater than 15 Mt-LCE[2], with a mean focus of 407 mg/L of lithium contained within the brine, supporting additional capability enlargement.

Delivering a venture at 4,000 m of altitude within the distant Andean Highlands

Eramet is beginning right this moment the commissioning of a state-of-the-art processing plant extremely automated. This can be a key profitable milestone within the venture execution contemplating the very difficult surroundings, particularly:

• Altitude and excessive climate situations,
• Logistics problem to carry on web site massive items of kit and materials,
• Lack of pre-existing infrastructure,
• As much as 1,600 individuals working at web site concurrently and making use of the very best well being & security requirements (delivering a TRIR[3]<2 for roughly 7 million hours of development exercise),
• Importing gear from greater than 10 nations with a global provide chain disturbed by the Covid disaster.

Some of the superior Direct Lithium Extraction (‘DLE’) course of

The Centenario Part 1 plant makes use of one of the vital superior DLE expertise:

• Examined for five years beneath real-life situations in a pilot plant constructed on the Centenario web site, it has achieved a excessive restoration price of lithium contained within the brine of roughly 90%. As compared, if we have been utilizing the standard pure evaporation course of in Centenario, the restoration price can be 40–50%,
• Because of this, the DLE expertise developed by Eramet is 50% extra environment friendly than the standard pure evaporation methodology. It additionally allows to cut back the manufacturing lead-time to 1 week vs a 12 to 18-month interval for the standard evaporation methodology,
• Developed in France by Eramet Concepts, the Group’s R&D and Open Innovation heart, this expertise is roofed by 12 patents.

A robust CSR dedication

Probably the most stringent commonplace for accountable mining

As a part of its “Act for Optimistic Mining” CSR roadmap, Eramet has dedicated to subjecting all its mining operations to an impartial audit course of based mostly on the IRMA (Initiative for Accountable Mining Assurance) commonplace. It’s the first worldwide commonplace for the mining sector with a world strategy, together with environmental, social and governance features of mining operations. By partaking stakeholders from varied sectors, together with communities, NGOs and trade specialists, IRMA ensures a holistic perspective that addresses various issues and promotes transparency all through the mining provide chain. The Centenario web site accomplished its self-assessment in 2022 and is getting ready for an exterior audit scheduled for the start of 2025.

Dialogue with native communities

In early 2010, from the very starting of the venture, Eramet groups began a strategy of examine and dialogue with native communities, particularly the group of Kollas, who’s acknowledged as an indigenous inhabitants by the structure of the Province of Salta. A Free, Prior and Knowledgeable Consent (‘FPIC’) process has been carried out in accordance with the provisions of ILO Conference 169, resulting in the granting of consent for the Centenario venture in February 2020. The communities proceed to be stored knowledgeable of the venture improvement.

Native employment

Throughout the development section, Eramet has contributed to the creation of greater than 2,500 direct jobs in Salta Area. The Centenario Part 1 plant will make use of round 350 individuals, out of which 92 % are Argentinians, 76% from Salta Province.

“Eramet Past” packages for optimistic influence

Eramet can be growing relationships with native NGOs fostering native financial improvement as a part of its “Eramet Past” program to speed up native and sustainable improvement past mining actions. Thus, Eramet companions with “ProMujer” to allow girls entrepreneurs of Salta Province to strengthen their abilities and enhance the earnings from their actions. Additionally, with the inspiration “Por Nuestros Ninos”, Eramet has developed the “Triple Influence” venture to advertise the creation and development of micro-businesses with monetary, environmental and social impacts within the Province of Salta.

¹ On a 100% foundation.

Supply from Eramet.