Unfortunately we don't have much information and is reduced to...

Unfortunately we don't have much information and is reduced to speculation on this.

as per this article
https://www.riotinto.com/news/releases/2021/Rio-Tinto-to-acquire-Rincon-Mining-lithium-project

"The acquisition demonstrates Rio Tinto’s commitment to build its battery materials business and strengthen its portfolio for the global energy transition.
Rincon is a large undeveloped lithium brine project located in the heart of the lithium triangle in the Salta Province of Argentina, an emerging hub for greenfield projects. The project is a long life, scaleable resource capable of producing battery grade lithium carbonate. It has the potential to have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry that can help deliver on Rio Tinto’s commitment to decarbonise its portfolio."

Sound like they are keen to deliver on some company strategic objectives of decarbonising their portfolio.
That is why spod is not the way to go.

If you read the rest of the article they will be going over the whole operation with a fine toothed comb.
Also.

"The direct lithium extraction technology proposed for the project has the potential to significantly increase lithium recoveries as compared to solar evaporation ponds. A pilot plant is currently running at the site and further work will focus on continuing to optimise the process and recoveries. "Hardly sounds like this is a done deal or that the pilot plant phase is over and have delivered the goods.

They are redefining the resource, development plan, EIA and reviewing the tech!
They are not taking over a developed brownfields project. As per their own statements in the article. Greenfield. Undeveloped.

Pablo did not invent DLE - Not one single person can claim those honours.
He was one of the key people implementing the tech at FMC/Livent Fenix project with Dr J Burba and others.
Enginering and Technology manager at FMC at the Fenix project from 1997-2012 and while there invented new patents credited to FMC.
https://patents.justia.com/inventor/pablo-alurralde
Later a director.

The patents was co-invented by Dr. Vijay Mehta who just joined Lithium South to "supervise the further assessment and potential development of Direct Lithium Extraction Technology for the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project, located in Argentina."
https://www.lithiumsouth.com/posts/lithium-south-development-appoints-dr-vijay-mehta-as-technical-consultant-2/

AGY lithium process was specifically designed by Pablo for this particular salar.
This is not copy paste technology, whatever his reasons, we don't have that info.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.... >99.5% pure lithium white powder.
The cost curve is low and process is scalable.

Ramp up is not quick however.
Next phase has 2 year lead time mostly because of evaporation ponds.
That is one of the main reasons everyone is gunning for "DLE".

Having said that.
Ramp up is only true of your DLE tech actually work commercially on your resource.

• Do you want to be Rincon Ltd still not commercial after ~12 years ( 2009 - 2022 )
• OR Argosy who will be a commercial producer after ~5years ( 2017-2022 )

From the same resource.

We are waiting to see what this development means for AGY if anything and if there has been any contact.
What I will say is that curiously one of the major shareholder and non-executive directors is Mal Randall
"Mr Randall holds a Bachelor of Applied Chemistry and has more than 45 years' of extensive experience in corporate, management and marketing in the resources sector, including more than 25 years with the Rio Tinto group of companies."

So you can bet he has some contacts in Rio.
It will be very curious to see how this develops.