Signal Eramet's Centenario-Ratones plant runs without evaporation ponds at 24,000 tonnes design capacity

Summary

The report cites Eramet's Centenario-Ratones plant in Argentina's Puna region as proof that direct lithium extraction works at industrial scale. It is described as the first industrial lithium operation that runs without any evaporation ponds. The plant delivered its first production in 2024 and is designed for an annual capacity of 24,000 tonnes. It sits 4,000 metres above sea level in one of the most remote deserts on Earth. The site was chosen partly to demonstrate that the technology can perform at altitude and at scale, and the report says it has now done so. The case supports the chapter's argument that direct extraction can open lithium sources and locations that the evaporation model cannot reach.