{"id":51379,"date":"2024-12-10T13:56:42","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T13:56:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eramine.eramet.ovh\/?page_id=51379"},"modified":"2026-03-24T11:49:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:49:20","slug":"production","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/eramine.eramet.com\/en\/activities\/production\/","title":{"rendered":"Production"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/i>

17 million tons<\/strong>
\nof Lithium Carbonate Equivalent
\nmineral resources<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i>

24 000 tons<\/strong>
\nannual lithium (LCE)
\nproduction target<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i>

+90%<\/strong>
\nlithium recovery yield
\nDLE process<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i>

1 week<\/strong>
\nprocessing time<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Low-impact mining at one of the world\u2019s richest lithium salars<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Centenario-Ratones ranks among the world\u2019s most significant lithium deposits. It holds an estimated 5,000 million cubic meters of brine, with an average lithium concentration of 407 mg\/l – equivalent to around 15 million tons of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE). In 2020, these resources were officially certified under the JORC Code (Joint Ore Reserves Committee), confirming their scale and quality.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Production<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Brine<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Our operations are guided by a strong commitment to environmental responsibility. We use an innovative direct lithium extraction<\/strong> (DLE) process designed to minimize impact on nature. The lithium-rich brine, a natural saltwater solution ten times more concentrated than seawater, is pumped from wells drilled 400 meters deep<\/strong>. Each of the 20 wells has a minimal surface footprint, with openings just 25 centimeters in diameter.<\/p>\n

Once extracted, the brine is transported through a dedicated pipeline network to our processing plant, where it begins its transformation into battery-grade lithium carbonate.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

An innovative, high-efficiency extraction process<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Once the brine reaches the processing plant, it undergoes several transformation stages. At the heart of the facility lies a breakthrough Direct Lithium Extraction<\/strong> (DLE) process, developed by Eramet Ideas, our Group\u2019s innovation center based in France.<\/p>\n

This patented technology, protected by 12 patents, uses an aluminum-based material that acts like a sponge, selectively capturing lithium from the brine. With a recovery rate exceeding 90%<\/strong>, the process is both highly efficient and environmentally responsible. Unlike traditional evaporation ponds, it drastically reduces processing time, producing battery-grade lithium in less than 1 week<\/strong> instead of 18 months, and enables a water recycling rate of 60%.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Production<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Find out more on the Direct Lithium Extraction process developed by Eramet<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/lite-youtube><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The plant features a high degree of automation, supported by state-of-the-art technologies, including approximately 30,000 automation devices (such as sensors, motors, and valves), with around 6,000 instruments and sensors measuring and reporting process parameters in real time. The plant operates continuously, 24\/7, ensuring consistent performance and reliability.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

A hybrid electric source<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Eramet Eramine\u2019s energy infrastructure relies on a hybrid model that integrates solar power with conventional sources. To sustain its industrial operations, the company runs Argentina\u2019s most powerful Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system, equipped with four 7 MW generators. This installation required the development of a dedicated compression plant, located 320 km from our operation site and building a new gaspipe to link to the gas system.<\/p>\n

A major advantage of the CHP system is its capacity to recover exhaust gases, which are then used to cogenerate steam and hot water directly for the production process. This delivers an outstanding energy efficiency of 80% -more than twice that of a conventional combustion engine.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Production<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Production<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

In addition, solar panels with a capacity of 300 kWh have been installed to power the basecamp and training center, further reducing the site\u2019s carbon footprint.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

A major industrial achievement in the heart of the Puna<\/h2>\n

The construction of the industrial-scale lithium carbonate production plant at Centenario spanned nearly three years. At its peak, the site mobilized 1,700 workers per shift – over 80% of them from the Salta province, across more than 20 contractor companies.<\/p>\n

Building in such a remote and demanding environment required bold engineering and logistical innovation. The project involved 5,900 tons of steel structures, 30,000 m\u00b3 of concrete, and 170 km of piping. These efforts were further complicated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which added layers of complexity to workforce management and supply chains.<\/p>\n

Eramet Eramine has been committed to this project for over a decade, starting from exploration. Throughout this journey, the company has prioritized local sourcing, both labor and materials, to maximize its positive impact on Salta\u2019s communities. During the construction phase alone, $520 million USD were injected into the Argentine economy, including more than $290 million USD directed to local suppliers in the region of Salta.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":50929,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-51379","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nProduction - Eramet Eramine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/eramine.eramet.com\/en\/activities\/production\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Production - Eramet Eramine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/eramine.eramet.com\/en\/activities\/production\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Eramet Eramine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-24T14:49:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eramine.eramet.com\/en\/activities\/production\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eramine.eramet.com\/en\/activities\/production\/\",\"name\":\"Production - 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