Name of the Project
Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project.

Location
The project is located in Jujuy province, Argentina.

Project Owner/s
Caucharí-Olaroz is 100%-owned by Minera Exar, a 50:50 joint venture between Lithium Americas and Ganfeng Lithium.

Project Description
The project aims to produce 40 000 t/y of battery-quality lithium carbonate.

This includes a conventional, commercially proven brine processing technology optimised from the salar in partnership with Ganfeng Lithium to produce battery-quality lithium carbonate, which can be used to meet the specifications of battery material producers in the manufacturing of cathode, and electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries.

The project has a 40-year mine life.

Potential Job Creation
Minera Exar has more than 250 employees and about 500 contractors at the project.

All-in Sustaining Costs/All-in Costs
Nots stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a base case after-tax net present value, at a 10% discount rate, of $1.33-billion.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at $565-million.

Planned Start/End Date
First production is targeted for early 2021.

Construction on the project is under way and is expected to be completed by the end of 2020, with first production expected in early 2021. Full production is expected in 2022.

Latest Developments
Lithium Americas has reported that the construction schedule of the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project will be reassessed to account for delays in the delivery of equipment for the chemical plant from China.

The company has said that several pieces of equipment are being fabricated in China and that some suppliers have subvendors fabricating in China.

As a result of the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus, Covid-19, which caused factories and business in China to close for an extended period, there could be delays of up to 90 days in the delivery of some of the items.

Construction could now be delayed until early 2021, rather than the end of 2020, Lithium Americas has said, noting that, at the end of February, construction of the 40 000 t/d battery-quality lithium carbonate project was about 36% complete.

“The company continues to assess the impact of Covid-19 on the development programme, including discussions with all vendors and freight forwarders on the delivery schedule, to assess the impact on the schedule and develop mitigation strategies, if necessary. The company intends to provide updated guidance on the construction schedule in the second quarter,” it has said in a statement.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Lithium Americas, tel +1778656 5820 or email info@lithiumamericas.com.