Name of the Project
Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project.

Location
Jujuy province, Argentina.

Project Owner/s
Caucharí-Olaroz is 100%-owned by Minera Exar, a 50:50 joint venture between Lithium Americas and Ganfeng Lithium.

Project Description
Stage 1 of the project aims to produce 40 000 t/y of battery-quality lithium carbonate.

This includes a conventional, commercially proven brine processing technology, optimised from the salar in partnership with Ganfeng Lithium, to produce battery-quality lithium carbonate, which can be used to meet the specifications of battery material producers in the manufacturing of cathode, and electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries.

The project has a 40-year mine life.
Stage 2 will have a capacity of 20 000 t/y of lithium carbonate equivalent.

Potential Job Creation
More than 1 000 workers were on site in May 2021.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a base case after-tax net present value, at a 10% discount rate, of $1.33-billion.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at $641-million.

Planned Start/End Date
First production is expected in mid-2022.

Construction on Stage 2 is targeted to start in the second half of 2022, with production expected in 2025.

Latest Developments
Senior members of Ganfeng Lithium’s commissioning and construction team arrived in the second quarter of 2021 to assist the project until startup.

All major equipment and the majority of bulk materials have been delivered to site.

Construction of the lime plant is complete.

Solar evaporation ponds are well advanced with sufficient brine inventory to support production ramp-up.

Meanwhile, planning for the Stage 2 expansion is under way.

More details on the project will be available by the fourth quarter of this year, followed by an updated feasibility study in 2022.

The company reported that construction on Stage 1 was well under way, with more than 1 000 workers currently on site.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Lithium Americas, tel +1778656 5820 or email info@lithiumamericas.com.