Eramet, Europe's leading producer of battery-grade lithium

As part of its “Act for Positive Mining” CSR roadmap, Eramet has committed to subjecting all its mining operations to an independent audit process based on the IRMA (Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance) standard. These are the first international standards to offer a global approach to the mining sector, including all environmental, social and governance aspects of mining operations. By involving stakeholders from different sectors, including communities, NGOs and industry experts, the IRMA standard ensures a holistic perspective that takes into account the diversity of expectations, and promotes transparency throughout the mining supply chain. The Centenario site completed its self-assessment in 2022 and is preparing for an external audit scheduled for early 2025.

In the early 2010s, right from the start of the project, Eramet teams began a process of study and dialogue with local communities, in particular the Kollas community, recognized as an indigenous population by the constitution of the province of Salta.

A procedure to obtain the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of the local communities has been carried out in accordance with the provisions of ILO Convention 169, leading to this consent being obtained for the Centenario project in February 2020. The communities continue to be kept informed of the project’s progress.

During the construction phase, Eramet contributed to the creation of over 2,500 direct jobs in Salta province. The Centenario Phase 1 plant will employ around 500 employees for operations and project, 92% of them Argentines, 76% of them from Salta province.

In this desert area, Eramet has taken care to integrate responsible water resource management right from the design stage of its process.

There is no competition for fresh water in the region, as the people living closest to the project are located 11 km from the plant. Sixteen of them live there intermittently.

The first village, Santa Rosa de los Pastos Grandes, is 70 km from the site and is home to 250 people.

One of the most advanced direct lithium extraction (“DLE”) processes

The Centenario Phase 1 plant uses one of the most advanced DLE technologies. It was developed over 10 years in France by Eramet Ideas, the Group’s R&D and Open Innovation center, in collaboration with IFPEN (Institut Français du Pétrole et des Energies Nouvelles) and Seprosys. The technology is covered by 12 patents. It was then tested for 5 years in real-life conditions in a pilot plant built on the Centenario site.

The direct lithium extraction (DLE) process achieved a high recovery rate of lithium contained in the brine, of the order of 90%. By comparison, if we were to use the traditional natural evaporation process at Centenario, the recovery rate would be 40-50%.

The DLE technology developed by Eramet is 50% more efficient than the traditional natural evaporation method. It also reduces production lead times to 1 week, compared with 12 to 18 months for the traditional evaporation method.

The process works on the principle of a sponge: it captures the lithium contained in brines. This is then released by brackish water, captured at a depth of around 100 m. Over 60% of the water used is recycled in the process.

Eramet is currently modelling the direct reinjection of brine into the aquifers of the Centenario-Ratones salar. At the same time, Eramet Ideas teams are working continuously to improve the environmental efficiency of the process, in particular by further reducing water use.

As part of its “Eramet Beyond” program aimed at accelerating local economic development beyond mining activities, Eramet has set up partnerships with Argentine NGOs working to promote sustainable development on the ground. For example, Eramet has teamed up with “ProMujer” to enable 1,200 women entrepreneurs in the province of Salta to enhance their skills and improve their business revenues. Similarly, with the “Por Nuestros Ninos” foundation, Eramet has developed the “Triple Impact” project to promote the creation and growth of micro-enterprises with a financial, environmental and social impact in the province of Salta, which has benefited 323 students and 66 entrepreneurs.