HTX Energy offer equipment for new government plant
HTX Energy, Argentina have offered the government new machinery and supplies for their plan to launch a lithium ion battery plant in September.
The news of HTX offering to provide equipement and supplies to the new government facility was announced in a local mining magazine and local media. The equipment offered consisted of rotary kilns for use in the sulfonation process, agglomeration equipment and systems, Pin mixers, disc pelletizers and rotary drums for lithium mixing, conditioning, and pelletizing.
YPF declined some of the equipment stating that they have a modern vision which requires modern technology but would 100% be utilising the gift and have invited HTX to the opening day.
New lithium battery plant
The plant estimated to be completed by September is being built by YPF Tecnologia, who are a state owned energy and chemicals firm. The Argentinian government expects to have its first lithium ion battery plant up and running, using lithium carbonate extracted and processed locally by US mining company Livent Corporation.
The plant was originally scheduled to begin production last year, but has been delayed. It was unclear who would be the end user of the batteries, or for which applications they would be used.
Argentina’s mining minister Fernanda Avila said she hoped the new battery plant would be an example for others to follow, adding “the development of the supply around mining activity is a priority for our government”.
Lithium in Argentina
Argentina is part of South America’s lithium triangle, along with Chile and Bolivia, and is estimated to have the world’s fourth largest lithium reserves.
A number of domestic and international mining companies have lithium extraction projects under way in Argentina, including China’s Ganfeng Lithium, Livent, Lithium Americas and HTX Energy.
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