2023-06-13 10:49:31 ET
Lithium Americas ( NYSE: LAC ) said Tuesday it has produced its first lower than battery-quality lithium carbonate at the Cauchari-Olaroz project in Argentina.
The company said additional purification processing equipment to achieve battery-quality lithium carbonate will be on site in this year's H2.
During the ramp-up stage to production capacity of 40K metric tons/year of battery-grade lithium carbonate equivalent, Lithium Americas ( LAC ) expects Cauchari-Olaroz to operate below designed capacity, producing lithium carbonate under battery-quality specifications.
The company said it plans to increase capacity by 20K tons/year of LCE by year-end 2025.
The $979M Cauchari-Olaroz project is 44.8% owned by Lithium Americas ( LAC ), with China's Gangfeng Lithium holding a 46.7% stake and Argentina's JEMSE owning 8.5% and operated by local company Minera Exar.
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Lithium Americas produces first carbonate at Argentina mine