Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

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suite de ce post du 18 mai 2025 viewtopic.php?p=2411579#p2411579

Rio Tinto and Codelco to collaborate on Chilean lithium project
Situated in the Atacama region, the Salar de Maricunga is claimed to hold significant lithium reserves and potential for scalable, cost-effective production

Swagath Bandhakavi 20th May 2025

Rio Tinto and Corporación Nacional Del Cobre de Chile (Codelco) have entered into binding agreements to establish a joint venture for the development and operation of a lithium project in Chile’s Salar de Maricunga.

This alliance aims to bolster both Rio Tinto’s and Chile’s positions in the global energy transition supply chain.

The Salar de Maricunga, located in the Atacama region, is recognised for its substantial lithium reserves, offering scalable and low-cost production potential. The brine in the area is claimed to possess one of the highest concentrations of lithium globally.


Under the terms of the agreement, Rio Tinto will acquire a 49.99% stake in Salar de Maricunga, the entity through which Codelco manages its licenses and mining concessions in the area. This acquisition will involve Rio Tinto financing studies and development costs.

Rio Tinto has committed to an initial investment of $350m in the company to support further studies and resource analysis, advancing the project towards a final investment decision.

Upon proceeding with the project, an additional $500m will be allocated for construction expenses, with these milestones expected to be reached by the end of the decade. An additional $50m will be invested if the joint venture successfully delivers its first lithium output by 2030.

Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said: “Codelco is a strategic partner for Rio Tinto in Chile, with this agreement building on our copper joint ventures.

“We aim to bring significant investment and long-term benefits to the Atacama region as we advance Maricunga and Nuevo Cobre together, with a focus on responsible sustainable development including shared infrastructure and solutions to minimise water usage.”

Both partners will contribute to additional capital requirements proportionate to their ownership in the joint venture. The collaboration will focus on updating the project’s declared reserves and resources and advancing studies to guide future investment decisions.

The joint venture plans to engage closely with local communities, support infrastructure development like power and roads, and utilise advanced extraction, processing, and re-injection technologies to optimise mineral recovery and reduce environmental impact.

Codelco chairman Máximo Pacheco said: “This project continues our lithium diversification strategy, which is essential for the energy transition, with a world-class partner in Rio Tinto that represents the most attractive option for Codelco and the country.”

The transaction is anticipated to conclude by the end of Q1 2026, pending regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions.

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/r ... m-project/

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suite de ce post du 2 mars 2025 viewtopic.php?p=2407659#p2407659

Argentina authorises Rio Tinto’s expansion of Rincon Lithium Project
The expansion plans aim to enhance the existing 3,000-tonne starter plant with an additional 57,000-tonne facility, extending the mine's operational lifespan to 40 years

Swagath Bandhakavi 21st May 2025

The Argentine government has authorised the $2.5bn expansion of Rio Tinto’s Rincon Lithium Project, marking the first mining initiative approved under the nation’s new investment incentive programme.

The announcement came from Daniel Gonzalez, Secretary for Mining and Energy Coordination, during a press conference in Buenos Aires, reported Reuters.

Concerns have been raised within Argentina’s mining sector regarding delays in the approval of seven other projects submitted under the RIGI programme, which was introduced nine months ago.

Roberto Cacciola of the CAEM mining chamber addressed these concerns, acknowledging industry anxiety over the status of mining RIGIs.

The administration of President Javier Milei is seeking to enhance South America’s mining sector as a strategy to attract foreign currency and stabilise an economy currently challenged by high inflation.

As the fourth-largest global supplier, Argentina plays a crucial role alongside Chile and Bolivia in a “lithium triangle” that contains major reserves of this essential metal used in electronic devices and electric vehicles.

While South America also exports silver and gold, with significant copper projects under construction, these ventures have yet to reach production stages. The RIGI programme has also attracted interest from Canadian company McEwen Copper and South Korea’s Posco.

Situated in Salta Province, the Rincon project involves extracting lithium through brine using a production wellfield and includes processing and waste management facilities.

The project utilises direct lithium extraction technology, which supports water conservation and reduces waste while ensuring consistent production of lithium carbonate.

The expansion plans involve augmenting the current 3,000-tonne starter plant with a 57,000-tonne plant, extending the mine’s operational life to 40 years.

Construction on this expanded facility is anticipated to begin in mid-2025, pending necessary permits, with initial production set for 2028 and a three-year period to reach full capacity. This expansion is expected to create jobs and economic opportunities for local businesses.

Rio Tinto announced its investment in expanding Rincon in December 2024 as its first commercial-scale lithium operation.

Initial production at the 3,000-tonne starter plant was achieved by the company in November 2024, 32 months after acquiring the greenfield project.

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/a ... m-project/

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suite de ce post du 1er dec 2024 : viewtopic.php?p=2397695#p2397695

Rio Tinto joins forces with ENAMI for Salares Altoandinos lithium project
Rio Tinto will acquire a controlling 51% stake in the Salares Altoandinos lithium project, while ENAMI will maintain a 49% stake

Swagath Bandhakavi 23rd May 2025

Rio Tinto has been designated by Empresa Nacional de Minería (ENAMI) as the preferred partner for the Salares Altoandinos lithium project in Chile’s Atacama region.

ENAMI is a state-owned mining entity in Chile.

Under the agreement, Rio Tinto will acquire a controlling 51% stake in the Salares Altoandinos lithium project, while ENAMI will maintain a 49% holding. This transaction awaits finalisation through binding agreements, regulatory approvals, and customary conditions.

The collaboration is said to mark a significant step for Rio Tinto as it seeks to expand its presence in the global lithium market, critical for energy transition technologies.

The company’s growing portfolio now encompasses key assets across South America, Canada, and Serbia, bolstered by its recent acquisition of Arcadium Lithium.

Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said: “We are honoured to have been selected by ENAMI as the preferred partner for the Salares Altoandinos project, which has the potential to be a world-class lithium development.

“We welcome the opportunity to develop our partnership with ENAMI, building on our interests in Nuevo Cobre and Salar de Maricunga, and to support Chile’s position as one of the world’s leading producers of minerals critical to the energy transition.”

The partnership follows a recent agreement between Rio Tinto and Codelco to form a joint venture for developing a lithium project at Salar de Maricunga, also in the Atacama region. Under this arrangement, Rio Tinto will finance necessary studies and development costs for a 49.99% stake in the venture managed by Codelco.

Rio Tinto’s strategy leverages its established position in the Lithium Triangle to drive synergies across value chains. The company’s financial strategy includes an anticipated capital expenditure of $10-11bn annually, aimed at maximising shareholder returns through strategic investments.

The firm aims to prioritise sustainable practices in its operations, including minimising freshwater use and engaging local communities. Its initiatives also focus on advanced processing technologies and brine reinjection studies to mitigate environmental impacts.

In Argentina, Rio Tinto plans to expand its operations into large-scale super-hubs through projects like Rincon, Olaroz, Fenix, Sal de Vida, and Cauchari. These developments aim to enhance competitiveness and scalability by utilising common infrastructure across multiple sites.

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/r ... m-project/

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suite de ce post du 17 aout 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2375280#p2375280

La Californie commence à extraire le lithium de son gisement géant

Par Laurent GAUTHIER le 21 mai 2025

Nous avons relaté dans nos colonnes les projets d’extraction du lithium en Alsace dans des puits géothermiques. Ce lithium, appelé lithium géothermal et issu de procédés dits DLE (pour Direct Lithium Extraction), extrait la précieuse substances de saumures, c’est-à-dire de l’eau très concentrée en sel et extraite de sources profondément enfouies sous le sol.

Cette technique présente plusieurs avantages : rapidité, faible surface mobilisée et moindres impacts écologiques. Il est également possible de produire de l’énergie géothermique par la même occasion. Et c’est un projet de ce type qui a démarré en 2024 en Californie, dans l’Imperial Valley.

Lancement de la première phase du projet

Le projet phare est appelé Hell’s Kitchen. Il est mené par la société Controlled Thermal Resources. C’est un projet de grande envergure. Qu’on en juge : un investissement de 1,85 milliard de dollars, destiné à produire 40 MW de chaleur et 25 000 tonnes d’hydroxyde de lithium chaque année. À terme, la production devrait être portée à 350 MW de chaleur et 175 000 tonnes de lithium par an.

Le groupe automobile Stellantis a massivement investi dans ce projet : plus de cent millions de dollars en août 2023. Un investissement qui lui permettra de se réserver une part de la production, à savoir 65 000 tonnes par an d’hydroxyde de lithium, et ce, pour les dix prochaines années. Ces investissements, combinés à ceux de General Motors et du DOE (Departement of Energy étasunien), ont permis le lancement du projet. La construction a ainsi démarré en 2024.

Un gisement total colossal

Ce projet phare de la région, a cependant accusé un an de retard, du fait de conflits juridiques relatifs aux études environnementales. Ces conflits ont été tranchés en début d’année, permettant au projet de tout juste redémarrer. La première phase du projet est planifiée pour 2026 en ce qui concerne la production d’énergie et 2027 pour la production de lithium.

D’après le Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory du DOE, la région contiendrait plus de 3,4 millions de tonnes de lithium exploitables (l’étude est accessible en source ouverte). Cela permettrait d’équiper plus de 375 millions de véhicules électriques. Plus que d’habitants aux États-Unis, donc. Justifiant ainsi pleinement le nom de la vallée, qui, sous l’engouement, a pris depuis le nom de Lithium Valley.

https://www.revolution-energetique.com/ ... ent-geant/

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suite de ce post du 12 nov 2023 : viewtopic.php?p=2380033#p2380033

Saskatchewan gives green light to Prairie lithium project

19th May 2025 By: Mariaan Webb

ASX-listed Arizona Lithium on Monday announced that it had received approval for Phase 1 of its Prairie lithium project in Canada, stating that it was the first lithium brine project in Saskatchewan – and one of the first in North America – to secure initial production approval.

Phase 1 involves production at Pad #1 using a commercial-scale direct lithium extraction (DLE) unit with capacity to produce 150 t/y of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). The company said the unit represented a full commercial-scale DLE system that could be replicated to scale up production in future phases.

Alongside the production approval, Arizona Lithium also unveiled an updated well network model, based on data from its 2024 drilling and completion programme. The model significantly increased the estimated indicated resource that could be produced – up 120% to 17 000 t/y LCE, from the previous 7 700 t/y used in the project’s prefeasibility study.

“These approvals are another massive milestone in project development,” said Arizona Lithium MD Paul Lloyd. “The regulatory framework in Saskatchewan provides project developers with a clear permitting path and the ability to establish operations.”

Saskatchewan Minister for Energy and Resources Colleen Young welcomed the approval, saying the Prairie project had been at the forefront of lithium exploration and development in the province.

“Over the past five years, there has been significant investment in lithium exploration and mineral acquisitions in Saskatchewan,” she said. “As a result, we have learned that south-east Saskatchewan hosts the highest-grade lithium brines in Canada. The Prairie lithium project has led the charge in resource and process developments, and we are pleased to see it reach this milestone.”

https://www.miningweekly.com/article/sa ... 2025-05-19