The Argentine mining secretariat said that Buenos Aires will buy locally produced lithium from the American company “Livent Corp” to produce cells and batteries at a new plant that will start operating in September.
The operation is part of an agreement signed by Catamarca Province, where lithium is produced, at the beginning of the year, with the state-owned energy research company Y-TEC, under which Levent will supply lithium to UNILIB, the first cell and battery development plant in the province.
Argentina has become the fastest growing lithium producer in the world, with three active mines and 38 under development. The industry had recorded exports in May, accounting for 19% of the country’s mining exports.
Argentina is now looking to develop a value chain around its mining products.
