Sal de Vida
Catamarca, Argentina
Highlights
Battery Grade LC
Product Quality
15ktpa LC
Stage 1 production capacity
45ktpa
Stage 1 and 2
40 year
Project life
The tier 1 brine project is located in Catamarca Province on the Salar del Hombre Muerto, ~1,400km northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina and ~200km from Allkem’s flagship Olaroz Lithium Facility. Catamarca is a proven mining jurisdiction, home to several successful mining operations and development projects.
Overview
Sal de Vida is a globally competitive project with superior brine chemistry that readily upgrades to battery grade lithium carbonate.
Sal de Vida is a globally competitive project with superior brine chemistry that readily upgrades to battery grade lithium carbonate.
The Resource estimate of 7.2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) has high grade and low levels of impurities, making Sal de Vida one of the highest-quality brines globally. The Reserve estimate of 2.5 million tonnes of LCE supports a 40 year project life.
The deposit sits more than 4,000 metres above sea level and lies within the “lithium triangle”, an area encompassing Chile, Bolivia and Argentina that contains a significant portion of the world’s estimated lithium resources.
The project is designed to produce predominantly battery grade lithium carbonate through an evaporation and processing operation at the Salar del Hombre Muerto site.
The adoption of battery grade as a final product was the result of a technical breakthrough achieved by the process development team. The simplistic flowsheet utilises mature technology, and was internally developed based on its low consumption of energy and water.
The initial production target of 15,000tpa in Stage 1 is readily expandible to a 45,000 tpa brine operation with an additional 30ktpa from Stage 2.
Long-term hydrological pump testing under operating conditions has demonstrated excellent brine extraction and aquifer recharge rates to support the production design basis.
Outlook
A globally competitive brine operation with low capital and operating costs.
Allkem is targeting a sustainable energy mix, with at least 30% solar energy for Stage 1. Stage 2 development is expected to occur sequentially from Stage 1.
