Rio Tinto Opens $1.4 Billion Lithium Projects in Argentina
Rio Tinto inaugurated the Sal de Vida and Fénix 1B lithium operations in Catamarca, Argentina, following a combined investment of approximately $1.4 billion.
Mining company Rio Tinto inaugurated the Sal de Vida operation and the Fénix 1B expansion in Argentina's Catamarca province. The projects represent a combined investment of approximately $1.4 billion and achieved first production in the second quarter of 2026. Both sites are currently ramping up to a combined annual capacity of 25,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).
The operations utilize direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, which the company positions as a more sustainable alternative to traditional evaporation ponds. This expansion supports a broader corporate strategy to reach a global annual production capacity of 200,000 tonnes of LCE by 2028.
President Javier Milei and Catamarca Governor Raúl Jalil joined Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott for the opening. The investment follows a series of market-friendly reforms and tax incentive schemes implemented by the Milei administration to attract large-scale mining capital and increase Argentina's competitiveness against other Lithium Triangle nations such as Chile and Bolivia.
