Argentina’s mining officials discuss strategic engagements on lithium with Germany

Published: Feb 7, 2024 19:00

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Both Argentina and Australia communicated with foreign governments to seek lithium investors and partners. China is out of the loop but in the discussion.

On 2 February, Argentina’s Mining Secretary, Flavia Royon, along with governors from the Lithium Table provinces (Jujuy, Catamarca, and San Juan), visited Germany to promote Argentina’s critical mineral resources, focusing on lithium and copper. During their visit, they held meetings with German officials, including representatives from Germany’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Economic Affairs Commission of the German Parliament, and the Ministry of Economy and Climate, aiming to strengthen bilateral collaboration in the global energy transition and battery manufacturing.

A follow-up visit by German officials to Argentina is scheduled for March 2024 to continue detailed discussions on enhancing financial instruments and bilateral agreements.

In the same week, Australian Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King announced plans to visit Korea and Japan with the aims to bolster the critical minerals trading relationship between Australia and the two countries. This parallels Argentina’s engagement with Germany, as both Argentina and Australia, as key upstream lithium producers, are seeking to strengthen their positions in the global supply chain. The meetings also touched on the importance of supply chain diversification for countries like Germany, suggesting the strategic benefits of reducing reliance on China’s dominance in lithium chemical production. SMM expects the tangible impact of these efforts will become apparent in the long term, as countries are still exploring collaborations and diversification initiatives.

Author: Hongqiu Su | Battery Metals Analyst Associate | London Office, Shanghai Metals Market

Email: lilysu@smm.cn

Policy New Energy

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