Rio Tinto has officially opened two lithium projects in Argentina’s Catamarca province, adding a combined 25,000 tonnes of targeted annual production capacity for lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) as the mining group expands its battery materials business.
The projects comprise the Fénix 1B expansion and the new Sal de Vida lithium operation. Rio Tinto said it had invested approximately US$1.4 billion in the two developments. Production at both facilities began in the second quarter of 2026, ahead of schedule, and is now ramping up.
The company said the projects would strengthen its position in the global lithium market while supporting Argentina’s role as a supplier of the battery material.
Fénix Expansion Adds 10,000 Tonnes of Capacity
The Fénix operation, which began commercial production in 1997, is recognised as Argentina’s first commercial lithium production facility.
The Fénix 1B expansion has added 10,000 tonnes per year of LCE capacity, increasing the site’s total annual capacity to approximately 40,000 tonnes.
Sal de Vida is a new lithium carbonate operation located around 20 kilometres northeast of Fénix. The project is designed to reach an annual production capacity of 15,000 tonnes of LCE.
Together, the two developments are expected to contribute 25,000 tonnes of annual capacity once fully ramped up.
Argentina Remains Central to Rio Tinto’s Lithium Expansion
Rio Tinto operates or is developing additional lithium projects in Argentina’s provinces of Jujuy and Salta. These include the Rincón project, which is expected to reach long-term production capacity of 60,000 tonnes per year.
Commercial operations at Rincón are scheduled to begin in 2028.
Simon Trott, chief executive of Rio Tinto, described the opening of the Catamarca projects as an important milestone for the company and Argentina’s lithium industry.
“Today is a proud moment for Rio Tinto and an important milestone for Argentina’s lithium industry, as we grow our position as a leading global supplier. […] These two projects build on nearly three decades of lithium production in Catamarca and the expertise of our Argentine workforce. They demonstrate our industry-leading project delivery capability, as we execute with discipline towards our global target of 200,000 tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent annual production capacity by 2028.”
The 200,000-tonne target reflects Rio Tinto’s broader ambition to become one of the world’s leading lithium producers.
Portfolio Restructuring and Investment Priorities
Rio Tinto has also reassessed its lithium development priorities elsewhere. In Serbia, the company stepped back from the Jadar project at the end of 2025, saying it would focus on other opportunities with nearer-term potential. The project was still undergoing the permitting process when the decision was made.
The move formed part of broader efforts by Trott, who became CEO in August 2025, to streamline operations and control costs. The company also reorganised its business into three main units: iron ore; aluminium and lithium; and copper.
Despite the rationalisation, Rio Tinto has continued to invest in its lithium portfolio. Earlier in 2026, it invested in Canadian lithium company Nemaska Lithium. The move followed its US$6.7 billion acquisition of lithium producer Arcadium in 2024.
The company has increasingly positioned lithium as a major business alongside its established iron ore, aluminium and copper operations. Argentina remains a central part of that strategy, although the pace and scale of future investment will depend on its wider capital allocation priorities.