Jujuy will host in October the debate on Argentina's new lithium era

Argentina's lithium industry enters October at a larger scale and facing new demands. During 2025, the country exported the mineral for US$905 million, the highest value recorded to date, and reached seven operating facilities.

This scenario will be analyzed at the 15th edition of Lithium in South America, to be held on October 7 and 8 in Jujuy. The meeting will bring together industry leaders to address productive developments in northwestern Argentina, global competition for critical minerals, and the conditions necessary to sustain growth.

The agenda will include topics related to access to financing, infrastructure, suppliers, human resources development, US-China relations, pricing mechanisms, and the development of technologies such as direct lithium extraction.

Mining chambers from Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca will open discussions on exploration, operational performance, investments and local capacity. Representatives from MIGA, the World Bank Group, the French Development Agency and the European Union will also participate, focusing on financing mechanisms, risk mitigation and international cooperation.

One case reflecting the financial scale of new projects is Rincón, in Salta. Rio Tinto secured in March a US$1.175 billion financing package from IFC, BID Invest, Export Finance Australia and JBIC for an initiative valued at US$2.500 billion, with a projected capacity of approximately 60,000 tons annually of battery-grade lithium carbonate.

The institutional opening will feature the governors of Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca, as well as representatives from the Lithium Roundtable, the National Mining Secretariat and the Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies. The program will also discuss shared infrastructure, employment and supplier integration.