Mining Intelligence and News
Argentina

Centenario-Ratones Mine

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Categories

Summary

Mine TypeIn-Situ
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Lithium
Mining Method
  • Brine mining
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotEramet uses the lithium contained in the brines of Centenario, one of the richest salars in Argentina. The lithium is extracted by means of a highly competitive direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology developed in-house.

On July 3, 2024, Eramet SA announced start of the commissioning of the Centenario direct lithium extraction plant (Phase I). On December 24th, 2024, Eramet announced that it has delivered first lithium carbonate production at its commissioned Centenario plant.

A feasibility study is underway to achieve a total annual production of around 30 kt additional.

In November 2023, Eramet’s Board of Directors approved the investment decision for the development of the first tranche of Phase 2 for an additional 30kt LCE per year. This approval remains subject to obtaining construction permits. Start of production is expected in Q2 2026.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Eramine Sudamérica S.A. (operator) 100 % Direct
Eramet Group 100 % Indirect
Eramet announces the buy-back of all Tsingshan Group’s (“Tsingshan”) minority interest (49.9%) in Eramine Sudamerica (“Eramine”). The transaction was completed on October 24, 2024. Accordingly, the Group now owns again 100% of its Argentinian subsidiary.

Deposit type

  • Brine

Summary:

The project area is a hydrological basin containing two salt flats, Centenario and Ratones. The Ratones Salar is located to the N of C° Ratones. A mountainous island of metamorphic rocks emerges in the central eastern part of the salt flats, where it forms a wide bay in its southern sector. Within and around the bay is the borate concentration. The Salar de Centenario is the continuation of the previous one, from which it is separated by the confluence of two important alluvial cones that expand into the depression. Genetically, it is related to the development of an important alignment of extinct hot springs, whose travertine remains can be seen on the eastern edge of the salar, coinciding with the regional fracture that limits the depression.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Commodity Production

1st lithium production delivered end-December 2024.
12-month ramp-up from the start of production.
CommodityProductUnits2025
Lithium Carbonate kt  ....  Subscribe
^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational metrics

Metrics2025
Annual production capacity  ....  Subscribe
^ Guidance / Forecast.

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Mine Financials

Units2025
Capital expenditures (planned) M EUR  ....  Subscribe

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 4, 2025
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Workforce

EmployeesYear
...... Subscription required 2024

Aerial view:

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