Argentina’s Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI, by its Spanish initials) committee approved a new lithium mining project in Catamarca. The project, spearheaded by Australian firm Galan Lithium, will entail a US$217 million investment.

The firm’s goal is to produce up to 20,850 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) annually by 2027. Exports for the project, the sixth approved by the RIGI, are estimated to be north of US$180 million starting in 2029.

Economy Minister Luis Caputo confirmed on social media that the project, located at the Salar del Hombre Muerto region, was given the green light. In the same statement, he announced that the government had rejected a bid by Chinese company Ganfeng to join the RIGI and expand Project Mariana, a lithium enterprise in Salar de Llullaillaco, Salta.

This firm is a global lithium giant that has already invested US$2.5 billion in Argentina and planned to reach nearly US$5 billion in the coming years.

On October 30,........

© Buenos Aires Herald