Lithium Argentina announced preliminary operational results for the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine operation, located in Jujuy and recently brought into production.

By Panorama Minero

"We are very pleased with the production results of Cauchari-Olaroz to date and continue to progress in increasing both production volume and product quality," commented John Kanellitsas, Executive Chairman, President, and interim CEO of the Canadian capital company.

"The team in Argentina has gained valuable experience and has consistently achieved important milestones as the project transitioned from construction to operations. We look forward to 2024 with the goal of reaching nameplate capacity and laying the groundwork for our next phase of growth," the company stated in its latest corporate report.

Highlights:

-2023 production exceeded the company's expectations, reaching approximately 6,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate.
-The lithium carbonate plant is operating at approximately 50% capacity.
-The KCl plant is operational and in the process of increasing production volume and product quality.

Following the achievement of the first lithium carbonate production in June 2023, Cauchari-Olaroz has been consistently producing lithium carbonate as commissioning and production ramp-up continue. Currently, production is achieving a lithium carbonate content of 99.5%, with technical quality specifications approaching battery quality, they explained.

The project produced approximately 6,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate in 2023, exceeding the company's previous guidance of 5,000 tonnes. The first lithium shipment was made in early October, with regular shipments since then.