"Lithium is an opportunity for Argentina"

Arnaldo Visintin is a researcher at CONICET and the National University of La Plata. He is one of the leading experts in lithium battery development in Argentina, with over 25 years of experience in the field. He was an advisor in the construction of the pilot plant installed by Y-TEC (a joint venture between YPF and CONICET) in La Plata, which began operations at the end of 2023.

The scientist asserts that Argentina has a significant opportunity with lithium, and the technological development in the country in this area is on par with that of European nations.

What future do you envision for lithium and its production chain in Argentina?

Lithium is an opportunity for Argentina. First, in terms of lithium extraction, we are at a historic moment, economically speaking, that we’ve never had before. It costs companies about $5,000 to produce one ton, which sells for around $35,000, although the price fluctuates. This production already has added value because purification is done in Argentina. Furthermore, producing lithium batteries is also an opportunity for the country because it increases their value by up to 60%. The first step is to produce the active material with lithium and other elements used in battery electrodes. Then, we can produce the battery cells, which is already being done by Y-TEC.

What is the window of opportunity for the country to join this industry?

Renewable energy needs to increase significantly to curb climate change. They are a necessity. But it is also an opportunity to improve the quality of life for Argentinians. That’s why it’s necessary to develop these technologies. We have an opportunity of at least 10 years. Companies that are making cells in Asia and Europe estimate the return on investment within this timeframe. Argentina won’t be saved by lithium, but it is a production chain that can generate income, export technology, and create highly skilled jobs. Additionally, if electric vehicle technology becomes a reality, as it is starting to, we will at least have to produce batteries to supply the automotive industry, which already exists in Argentina and Brazil (the latter being more behind than us on this matter). Today, a car battery can cost between $10,000 and $30,000. If we are going to make electric cars, it will be more convenient to produce the batteries here rather than importing them.

What is Argentina’s current capacity to develop lithium batteries on a large scale?

Argentina is in a position to make cells. It is the only country in Latin America capable of doing so. In La Plata, a pilot plant is being developed with the capacity to produce cells equivalent to 15 megawatts per year. There are no technical issues in multiplying that by 10 or 100. The problem was achieving the first pilot plant. To scale up, investment is needed, likely from the private sector with state support. This is already happening in Europe, but Argentina is more competitive than Europe because we have the resource. The political decision is ours to take advantage of this opportunity. Neighboring countries are watching us closely due to our potential. And technologically, Argentina is on par with Europe, even though there are different investment scales in science and technology.

How complex is it to develop a plant to produce cells?

It is a very complex technology. The machines are bought from abroad. But we could also make machines to produce cells and export the plant as a turnkey solution. There are no problems in the technical-scientific aspect. The goal is to build a second plant in Santiago del Estero with investment from the provincial government. That’s the goal: to sell pilot plants to train human resources and understand the technology behind them. The example is what the company Invap has done in nuclear technology.

What technology is behind these cells already being developed in Argentina?

Argentina decided to use phosphate, iron, and lithium for the cathode. Currently, all batteries on the market use nickel, manganese, and cobalt. The latter material is expensive, toxic, and its extraction in Africa is often carried out under conditions resembling slavery. Cobalt provides greater energy density, but phosphate and iron are safer, non-explosive, and cheaper.

The lithium chain consists of many links. What other developments is the country working on?

Y-TEC is also developing a pilot plant to produce the active material, the intermediate step between lithium extraction and battery cell manufacturing. They are also considering developing current collectors, very thin elements made of aluminum and copper. This can be done with the company Aluar. Another example is the electrolyte used in these batteries. The material is called hexafluorophosphate. It is only produced in China, and sometimes they refuse to sell it. The Bariloche Atomic Center, together with the National University of La Plata and the company Clorar from Santa Fe, has already managed to produce it on a laboratory scale.

After the iron-phosphate battery, what is the next generation of batteries that Argentina should begin developing?

There are several options. The battery with the highest energy density, which I believe will be the future, is lithium-sulfur. Sulfur is very light and cheap, and it has three times the energy density of current batteries. Several scientific groups in Argentina are studying it. The problem is that sulfur dissolves, causing the battery to deteriorate after a few charge cycles—about 100. A battery should last at least 3,000 cycles to compete with current technology. The next step would be sodium batteries, which no longer require lithium. Sodium is more abundant because it’s found in every country, but the problem is developing a metallic sodium cathode.

Lithium battery production also has environmental problems. What technological solutions exist to address this?

There are solutions. Its extraction requires the use of large amounts of water in an area where water is scarce. But this is a problem that can be mitigated. Argentina has very good hydrogeologists who can study how water changes due to lithium extraction and design a good extraction plan without damaging the ecosystem. Additionally, there are people studying extraction methods that don’t require water. Lastly, at the end of the chain, the battery needs to be recycled. Europe is already doing this. In Argentina, we don’t use many batteries, so we don’t see the need for it. But think about the lead batteries from cars that are already being recycled 99%. It’s not a complex technology, but recycling lithium batteries is expensive.