More automakers go for lithium: after the movement of GM, owner...

More automakers go for lithium: after the movement of GM, owner of Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat disembarks in the PunaThe multinational Stellantis closed agreements with a Canadian mining company that operates in the provinces of Salta and Catamarca. Main export destinations By Patricio Eleisegui03/10/2023 – 11,10hsAfter the decision of General Motors to disburse millions to guarantee participation in Energy X, a startup linked to the extraction of lithium, the multinational Stellantis moved the pieces and anticipated investments of up to 90 million dollars to ensure the supply of the mineral that is extracted today in the Puna. Specifically, the owner of automotive brands such as Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Opel and Peugeot, seeks to have the metal to intensify its commitment to the production of electric cars. The company said it will control nearly 20 percent of the shares of Argentina Lithium and Energy (ALE), with operations in Salta and Catamarca.As indicated from the environment of the firm, the investment of Stellantis will allow the automaker to get a volume of 15,000 tons per year of lithium for a period of seven years that can be extended.Prior to this disbursement, the company also allocated 155 million dollars to buy just over 14 percent of the Canadian mining company McEwen Copper, the controlling company in Argentina of the Los Azules project. The latter is an undertaking oriented to the extraction of cathodic copper in the province of San Juan with a start date of operations set for 2027.For its part, ALE belongs to the Canadian mining holding Grosso Group. In Argentina, the company is promoting four lithium projects that have not yet entered the exploitation phase: Rincón Oeste, Antofalla Norte and Pocitos in the province of Salta, and Incahuasi in Catamarca.Along with Stellantis and General Motors, Tesla and BMW are also stomping on lithium extractivism from supply agreements signed with the US mining company Livent, which controls the Fénix project in the province of Catamarca.The North American company also has agreements with General Motors itself for the delivery of lithium hydroxide required by vehicles such as the Chevrolet Blazer EV, the GMC Hummer EV and the Cadillac Lyriq.For its part, Toyota continues to participate in the Sales de Jujuy project with a partnership with the Australian Allkem, a firm that emerged from the merger between Galaxy and Orocobre.Lithium exports continue to riseAccording to data from the Directorate of Transparency and Mining Information accessed by iProfesional, in the first 8 months of 2023 lithium sales abroad reached 538 million dollars.This implied growth of the order of 36 percent year-on-year. Sales of the metal abroad already represent more than 20 percent of total mining exports, the official agency said.