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(Wallace Refiners) – Lithium Americas (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC) announced today that the company and its partner Ganfeng Lithium approved the commencement of development planning for a second stage expansion of at least an additional 20,000 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate equivalent (“LCE”) production capacity from Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project, located in Jujuy province, Argentina.
According to the statement, stage 2 expansion plan is targeting the following development parameters: production capacity of at least 20,000 tpa LCE to commence in 2025; construction commencing in H2 2022, following the commissioning and start-up of the initial 40,000 tpa operation (“Stage 1”); infrastructure additions to support long-term expansions beyond Stage 2.
“Caucharí-Olaroz is on track to become the largest new lithium brine operation in over 20 years,” commented George Ireland, Chairman of Lithium Americas, “With construction for Stage 1 expected to be complete within the next year, together with Ganfeng Lithium, we are beginning to plan our next phase of growth in Argentina.”
In Q2 2021, senior members of Ganfeng Lithium’s commissioning and construction team arrived in Argentina to assist the project through to start-up. Ganfeng Lithium’s team brings recent experience constructing and commissioning lithium carbonate plants in China, the company said.
Ganfeng Lithium is the largest lithium chemicals producer in China, with a diverse product mix including lithium carbonate, lithium chloride, lithium fluoride, lithium metal and butyl lithium.
Lithium Americas is a development-stage company with projects in Jujuy, Argentina and Nevada, United States.
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