SX boron plant in lithium carbonate plant, Exar

Minera Exar, an Argentine company formed by Lithium Americas Corp. (49%) and Ganfeng Lithium (51%), is engaged in the development and production of lithium in the Cauchari Olaroz Salar. In 2019, the mining company started the expansion of its lithium carbonate plant, with the intention of adding 15,000 ton/year to the current 25,000 ton/year. In addition, the project contemplated nine new evaporation basins, which would be added to the three existing ones.

Tenova, a global provider of advanced technologies, products and engineering services for the mining industry, asked PA Engineering to develop the mechanical and piping, structural, electrical and instrumentation and control detail engineering, including 3D models, of the SX plant for the construction and erection of the new facilities.

Although the pandemic context affected the pace of construction, given that the percentage of people was reduced to adapt to the sanitary measures in force, progress continued, and the plant was inaugurated at the end of 2024.