France’s Eramet is advancing the Centenario-Ratones lithium project in Argentina from construction into sustained industrial production, with the operation representing Europe’s most significant directly operated lithium asset in South America.
The first development phase involved approximately US$870 million of investment and is based on Eramet’s proprietary direct-lithium-extraction (DLE) technology. The process differs from conventional evaporation ponds by recovering lithium from brine over a shorter period before returning depleted brine to the salar system. Centenario-Ratones produced 3,720 tonnes of lithium carbonate in the first quarter of 2026. Production performance accelerated during the quarter, with the facility reaching close to 80% of nameplate capacity in March.
Production ramp targets 2026 capacity
Eramet is targeting full-year production of approximately 17,000–20,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate in 2026. The facility has installed design capacity of around 24,000 tonnes per year, which the company expects to approach by the end of 2026.
The development’s operating performance will depend on sustained production rather than a short period of peak throughput. Battery customers require consistent lithium carbonate specifications, including stable purity, particle characteristics and impurity levels across successive deliveries. Eramet controls the resource, its proprietary extraction technology and lithium-carbonate production at Centenario-Ratones. This structure reduces reliance on third-party technology providers and provides European customers with a supply route operated by a French industrial group.
DLE performance depends on operating conditions
The direct-lithium-extraction process introduces several operating requirements. Recovery performance is influenced by brine chemistry, sorbent behaviour, water balance and reagent consumption, while equipment must maintain performance through repeated operating cycles. Achieving design throughput alone would not guarantee financial performance if the process requires excessive reagent consumption or produces inconsistent product quality. Sustained recovery rates and product specifications therefore remain important elements of the industrial ramp-up.
The US$870 million first-phase investment establishes the capital requirement for the initial facility. Any subsequent expansion will need to demonstrate that cash generated by the operating plant can support additional investment without placing excessive pressure on Eramet’s balance sheet. Centenario-Ratones has moved into its 2026 production ramp-up, with annual output targeted at 17,000–20,000 tonnes against installed capacity of approximately 24,000 tonnes. The operation’s performance during this ramp will establish the ability of Eramet’s DLE process to deliver consistent lithium carbonate at the recovery and cost levels required for further expansion in Argentina.
