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Production · July 18, 2026
Lime, Soda Ash and Reagents: The Critical Inputs Lithium Production Depends On
Behind every ton of lithium carbonate lies a chain of chemical and energy inputs whose availability defines costs and operational continuity. A review of the key reagents and their logistics in the Puna.
Fundamentals · July 17, 2026
CAPEX and OPEX: How Lithium Project Costs Are Structured
Distinguishing upfront investment from operating cost is the foundation for assessing profitability. We break down the typical cost structure of a brine operation in the Argentine Puna.
Market · July 16, 2026
Certified Lithium: Traceability as the Ticket to Premium Markets
European buyers and automakers no longer look only at price and purity: they demand proof of responsible origin. We review the standards now shaping access to the highest-value markets.
Regulation · July 14, 2026
The Fiscal Burden on Lithium: Income Tax, Export Duties, and What the RIGI Changes
Beyond provincial royalties, lithium is taxed at the national level. We review the complete tax map and how the RIGI reshapes export duties and fiscal stability.
Production · July 13, 2026
The timeline of a lithium project: how long from discovery to first carbonate
Between the first brine sample and the first tonne of lithium carbonate, seven to ten years can pass. We break down the technical and financial milestones that structure that calendar.
Market · July 12, 2026
Juniors vs. majors: who really develops lithium projects in the Puna
Junior explorers discover the resources, but major miners provide the capital that turns them into production. We analyze how this development chain works in Argentina.
Production · July 11, 2026
Beyond Lithium: Potassium, Boron and Magnesium in Puna Brine
Puna brines contain far more than lithium. Recovering potassium, boron and magnesium can transform project economics and diversify revenue streams.
Fundamentals · July 10, 2026
PEA, PFS and DFS: How a Lithium Project's Viability Is Decided
Before building a lithium plant, a project goes through three technical studies that reduce uncertainty step by step. Understanding what each one contributes is key to reading a mining project.
Geography · July 9, 2026
From the salt flat to the ship: the export logistics of Argentine lithium
Every ton of lithium carbonate travels hundreds of kilometers across the mountains before reaching a port. Much of the sector's competitiveness is decided along that route.
Technology · July 8, 2026
Lithium Chloride: The Intermediate Product That DLE Puts in Play
Direct lithium extraction promises to speed up production in the Puna, but it delivers a chloride solution that is still far from battery grade. We review what it takes to close the gap.
Regulation · July 7, 2026
Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca: Three Provincial Frameworks for the Same Lithium
Provincial ownership of mineral resources means the same mineral is governed by different rules depending on where it is extracted. We compare regimes, royalties and state strategies across Argentina's three producing provinces.
Production · July 6, 2026
Lithium's Carbon Footprint: Brine Versus Hard Rock
The two main lithium production methods have very different emissions profiles. We examine why brine from the Puna could become a decisive commercial argument with European buyers.
Market · July 5, 2026
Offtake Contracts: How Lithium Is Sold Before It's Even Extracted
Before the first gram of carbonate leaves the plant, much of the output already has a buyer. Here's how the agreements that underpin financing and bring order to the lithium market actually work.
Market · July 4, 2026
Technical Due Diligence: What Investors Review Before Financing a Lithium Project
Before committing capital in the Puna, funds and miners audit resources, costs, permits, offtake and management. We review the critical points of that assessment.
Technology · July 3, 2026
Evaporation Ponds: The Method That Still Dominates the Puna
Despite the rise of direct extraction technologies, solar concentration in ponds remains the backbone of lithium production in northern Argentina. We review how it works, how long it takes, and why it endures.
Production · July 2, 2026
Wells and Brine Pumping: How Lithium Production Begins
Before the first ton of lithium carbonate there is a saline aquifer, a network of wells and hydrogeological decisions that define the viability of the entire project. We review the physical foundation of brine extraction.
Production · July 1, 2026
Can Argentina Manufacture Batteries? The Challenge of Moving Up the Value Chain
From lithium carbonate to the cell lies an enormous leap in technology, capital and scale. We examine what it takes and the real limits of local initiatives.
Regulation · June 30, 2026
The Path of Environmental Permits to Produce Lithium in the Puna
Before a single gram of lithium is extracted, every project must go through a rigorous environmental process. We review how the Environmental Impact Report works, provincial jurisdiction, and the timelines that determine when operations can begin.
Market · June 29, 2026
Beyond the Electric Car: Grid Storage Drives Lithium Demand
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are emerging as the second major source of lithium demand. We examine what this segment means for Argentine producers and for LFP chemistry.
Market · June 28, 2026
Lithium Demand to 2035: The Scenarios That Drive Investment
Lithium demand projections hinge on two decisive variables: electric vehicle penetration and the deployment of stationary storage. We review the scenarios and explain why Argentine supply arrives at a key moment in the global balance.
Technology · June 27, 2026
Battery Grade vs. Technical Grade: Two Markets, Two Prices
Behind the lithium-for-batteries frenzy lies a robust, less volatile industrial market. Understanding the difference between grades is key to reading prices, contracts and production strategies.
Production · June 26, 2026
Energy, Roads and Pipelines: The Infrastructure Lithium Needs
The real bottleneck for Argentine lithium isn't beneath the salt flat but above it: firm power, roads and logistics that today determine how far Puna projects can scale.
Fundamentals · June 25, 2026
Resources, Reserves and NI 43-101: How Lithium Is Measured Underground
Before a lithium project secures financing, its numbers go through international reporting standards. A clear guide to understanding what they mean and why they matter.
Market · June 24, 2026
The Lithium Cost Curve: Why Puna Brine Competes
When the lithium price falls, the question is no longer who produces the most, but who produces the cheapest. We analyze where Argentina's salt flats sit on the global cost curve.
Production · June 23, 2026
From Exploration to Production: The Phases of a Brine Lithium Project
Taking a salt flat from initial prospecting to the first tonne of lithium carbonate can take seven to ten years. We review each phase of the life cycle and the capital it requires.
Market · June 22, 2026
Argentina, Chile and Bolivia: Three Lithium Models in the Triangle
The so-called Lithium Triangle holds more than half of the world's resources, yet each country manages it under a different logic. Why Argentina now captures the bulk of the investment.
Production · June 20, 2026
Battery Grade: The Obsession With Lithium Purity
Battery-grade lithium demands purity above 99.5%. Behind that decimal point lies the difference between selling to a cell manufacturer or being relegated to lower-value industrial uses.
Technology · June 19, 2026
The DLE Technologies Competing in the Puna: Adsorption, Ion Exchange and Membranes
Direct lithium extraction promises to transform brine production. We examine the three technology families in contention, who is applying them in Argentina, and why scaling up remains the real test.
Market · June 18, 2026
The State and lithium: the role of YPF Litio and provincial companies
Beyond the major international miners, a set of national and provincial state actors is seeking a seat at the table of Argentine lithium. We analyze their models, scope and limits.
Market · June 17, 2026
Lithium's impact on the NOA economy: jobs, suppliers and infrastructure
The lithium boom in Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca reshaped the economic dynamics of the Puna. We examine its real effects on employment, local suppliers and infrastructure, with all the nuances.
Technology · June 16, 2026
Do Sodium Batteries Threaten Lithium? Myth and Reality of an Emerging Technology
Sodium-ion batteries are advancing as a low-cost alternative, but their technical limits position them more as a complement than a replacement for lithium. We analyze the landscape with industry data.
Market · June 15, 2026
The Lithium Price Cycle 2022–2026, Explained
From the historic peak of 2022 to the 2023-2024 collapse and the recent recovery: a guide to understanding the cycle's drivers and its lessons for investors and producers.
Production · June 14, 2026
Australia and Spodumene: The Other Lithium Model
While Argentina taps the brines of the Puna, Australia leads global production by extracting lithium from hard rock. Two models, two industrial logics worth understanding.
Regulation · June 13, 2026
How Lithium Royalties Are Distributed in Argentina: The Federal Framework Explained
Provinces own the resource, but the lithium value chain involves the federal government, municipalities and companies. A clear guide to who collects what—and how the RIGI fits in.
Regulation · June 13, 2026
Lithium and communities: the social license to operate in the Puna
Beyond legal permits, lithium projects need the support of the communities living around the salt flats. We examine what the social license entails and why it defines the viability of investments.
Market · June 12, 2026
How Electric Vehicles Move Lithium: From the Car to the Brine
Every electric car needs lithium for its battery. We break down how much, why demand is growing, and how public policy can accelerate or slow it down.
Market · June 12, 2026
China's Role in the Global Lithium Chain: Refining Dominance and What It Means for Argentina
China concentrates most of the world's lithium refining and battery manufacturing. Understanding that dominance is key for Argentine carbonate exporters.
Market · June 10, 2026
Lithium hydroxide vs. carbonate: which is worth producing?
Two compounds, two markets and one strategic decision. We analyze uses, price premiums, technical complexity and where Argentine production might be heading.
Production · June 9, 2026
Lithium and Water: Understanding the Environmental Debate in the Puna
Water use is the most sensitive issue in brine lithium mining. We examine the real impact on salt flats and communities, and how new technologies aim to reduce the water footprint.
Technology · June 8, 2026
Battery Recycling: Lithium's Urban Mine
End-of-life lithium batteries are emerging as a complementary source of critical materials. How recycling works, how much is recovered, and what role it will play against primary mining toward 2030.
Market · June 7, 2026
Why the Price of Lithium Rises and Falls: A Beginner's Guide to the Cycle
Lithium went from record highs to a sharp correction in just two years. Understanding the fundamentals of the cycle helps read the market without falling into euphoria or panic.
Geography · June 6, 2026
Argentina's great lithium salt flats: a geography of the productive Puna
A tour of the Puna's main salt flats —both producing and under development— with their location, operators and extraction methods.
Technology · June 5, 2026
LFP vs. NMC: The Battle of Battery Chemistries and Its Impact on Lithium Demand
Two chemistries dominate the lithium-ion battery market. Understanding their differences in cost, density and safety helps anticipate what kind of lithium the world will demand.
Fundamentals · June 5, 2026
How Does a Lithium-Ion Battery Work? A Clear Guide to Understanding the Heart of Electromobility
Anode, cathode, electrolyte and the journey of ions: understand in just a few minutes why lithium became a strategic mineral and how it connects to Argentina's Puna.
Fundamentals · June 5, 2026
What is lithium and why is it called “white gold”?
A light, reactive metal that became strategic for the energy transition. What it is, what it’s for, and why Argentina sits at the center of the map.
Production · June 4, 2026
Brine vs. hard rock: the two ways to produce lithium
Not all lithium is obtained the same way. The chosen route defines costs, timelines and environmental footprint — and explains Argentina’s competitive edge.
Technology · June 3, 2026
Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE): the technology accelerating production
It promises to recover more lithium, in less time and with less water than evaporation ponds. Here’s how DLE works and who uses it in Argentina.
Geography · June 2, 2026
The Lithium Triangle: why the south holds the world’s reserves
Argentina, Chile and Bolivia share the region with the planet’s highest concentration of lithium resources. Where each one stands.
Market · June 1, 2026
From salt flat to battery: the lithium value chain
Between the salt flat and the electric car there are several value-adding stages. Where Argentina stands today and where it could move next.
Regulation · May 31, 2026
RIGI for beginners: what changes for lithium mining
The Large Investment Incentive Regime reshaped the board. What it offers, who is already in, and until when you can apply.