Dubai mining firm plans to start Argentina lithium production next year
BUENOS AIRES - Dubai-based United Mining Projects Corporation (UMPC) plans to begin producing battery-grade lithium in Argentina next year, aiming to deliver 5 000 metric tons in 2027 and double that in 2028, CEO Bradley Pielsticker said in an interview.
Argentina is the world's fourth-largest lithium producer, with a pipeline of projects led by international companies set to ramp up in the coming months.
UMPC will operate in Argentina's Catamarca province through its subsidiary Marhen Lithium, and is currently analyzing its first production samples, Pielsticker said in the interview on Friday, after last month announcing a $550-million investment in the project.
The company is still determining which extraction method to use, but will likely begin with a mix of direct lithium extraction (DLE) and evaporation pools.
"We're looking at what steps we'll take with the pilot plant, which we expect to have operating next year," Pielsticker said. "We're looking at direct extraction to help us manage water resources more efficiently."
Argentina, weathering a prolonged economic crisis with a shortage of foreign currency, is betting on increased mining exports to boost the country's coffers. Lithium output grew nearly a third in 2023 compared to the prior year.
Pielsticker said he supports a proposal from President Javier Milei, under discussion in Congress, to give taxes, customs and exchange rate benefits to large projects.
"We are delighted with the general idea of changes that legislation could bring to mining projects," Pielsticker said.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
AirNox (Pty) Ltd is a level 1 BBBEE manufacturer of complete AdBlue® solutions for operators of SCR diesel engines and AUS40 across South Africa...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Multotec, recognised industry leaders in metallurgy and process engineering help mining houses across the world process minerals more efficiently,...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
