The governments of Argentina and Bolivia agreed this Thursday to advance in cooperation projects for the development of the lithium value chaina mineral of growing global demand for electromobility and energy transition, for which a first technical meeting was scheduled to be held in May
The understanding -called the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Integration of Evaporite Resources and Lithium- was signed this Thursday afternoon by the Minister of Science and Technology, Daniel Filmusand its Bolivian Hydrocarbons pair, Juan Franklyn Molina Ortizwithin the framework of a ceremony held at the Government House headed by the presidents Alberto Fernandez and Luis Arce.
Previously, Fernández and Arce released a joint statement, in which they highlighted “the importance of concretizing cooperation projects for the development of the value chain around lithium, through the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge, training and improvement of human resources and the promotion of sustainable extraction technologies”.
To add value to the production of #Lithium the contribution of scientific-technological research is strategic.
➡️ With that objective we agreed together with the president of Bolivia, @LuchoXBoliviadeepen cooperation between the two countries.
????? pic.twitter.com/6h7oR6vKdC— Daniel Filmus (@FilmusDaniel) April 7, 2022
For this, they agreed to hold a technical meeting in Argentina between Y-Tec and Bolivian Lithium Deposits next May, with the participation of the organizations of both countries with competences in the matter.
The extensive salt flats of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile make up the so-called “lithium triangle” It contains the world’s largest reserves of this mineral, so the interest of the Governments is to generate greater added value to this natural resource and not only be exporters of low-industrial raw material.
Filmus expressed -after signing the memorandum- that both countries continue “betting on the scientific and technological development of this strategic natural resource for Argentina and Bolivia by adding synergy for research, exchange of knowledge to optimize their research, exploitation and industrialization process. “.
“It is key to stop being a country that only exports primary resources and to give them added value, industrialize them and position ourselves in the world in a scenario that transitions towards this mineral,” the minister emphasized, highlighting the region’s effort to “advance in cooperation to change the productive matrix and give more added value to our exports”.
Both countries continue “betting on the scientific and technological development of this strategic natural resource for Argentina and Bolivia by adding synergy for research, exchange of knowledge to optimize their research, exploitation and industrialization process” Daniel Filmus
The president of YPF Tecnología (Y-Tec), Roberto Salvarezza, explained to Télam that The agreement seeks to coordinate efforts to work not only on the exploration and exploitation of the resource in mining activity, but also to be able to add value through the exchange and transfer of scientific and technological knowledge in accordance with areas of common interest..
“We are talking about strengthening human resources, information exchange, linking joint projects, looking at new materials because technologies evolve very quickly, in a cooperation framework with a country with which we share the two largest lithium reserves in the world,” explained the director of the research and development company.
The premise is to enhance scientific and technological resources in order to provide greater technological development and independence, and participate in the design of technological, socioeconomic, scientific, educational and research programs and projects in this area.
Since 2020, when Salvarezza was Minister of Science and Technology, they have been working with the Bolivian Ministry of Energy “on an agenda to strengthen the science and technology system dedicated to research and development in the lithium chain,” explained the minister. of Y-Tec by pointing out that the signing of the understanding this Thursday is heading in that direction.
Both countries are carrying out pilot plans to advance in the local integration of components that allow the manufacture of lithium cells and batteries, a development oriented in principle to the storage of energy generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind, or micromobility among other benefits, without ruling out the challenge of electric vehicles.
“In the development of these batteries, it is necessary to consider the largest amount of national raw materials for their integration into a higher value product, which is achieved by strengthening all research resources,” Salvarezza stressed.
In Argentina, Y-Tec has been advancing since last year together with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the National University of La Plata (UNLP) in the disbursement of more than $500 million for the adaptation of buildings, provision of services and the purchase of equipment for the future lithium cell and battery manufacturing plant.
The objective is to disaggregate the technological package and generate the knowledge that will allow the development of the entire industrial process, within the framework of the project called “Development of new technologies for lithium extraction, synthesis of lithium compounds with higher added value and construction of a scaling of lithium cells and batteries”.
