Lithium Brine Extraction at Scale

Argentina is the third vertex of the Lithium Triangle, with vast brine deposits across the high-altitude salars of Jujuy, Salta, and Catamarca provinces. The country aims to increase lithium production by 75% in 2025, driven by multiple projects reaching operational scale. CATL signed a landmark $1.4 billion agreement with YPF to develop the Salar del Hombre Muerto deposit, targeting 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent annually by 2028. The Salar del Rincón project in Salta ($1.2 billion) is projected to add 25,000 tonnes annually.

Argentina's extraction primarily uses conventional evaporation pond technology — pumping lithium-rich brine to the surface and concentrating it through solar evaporation over 12-18 months. This established approach (TRL 8-9) contrasts with Chile's push toward DLE. The Argentine government's 10-year lithium plan identifies dozens of projects across the three northwestern provinces, with a total investment pipeline exceeding $10 billion. Some newer projects are piloting DLE as an add-on to improve recovery rates.

The geopolitical landscape is intense: Chinese companies (CATL, Ganfeng, Zijin) are making the largest investments, raising concerns in Washington about Chinese control of critical mineral supply chains. Argentina under Milei has taken a market-friendly approach — no nationalization, welcoming all investors — which contrasts with Chile's state-controlled model and Bolivia's stalled state-owned approach. This open-door policy accelerates production but cedes strategic control of a mineral that will define 21st-century energy security.