Catamarca – October 29, 2026 -- Rio Tinto has formally opened its Fénix 1B expansion and Sal de Vida operation in Argentina's Catamarca province after a combined investment of around $1.4 billion, adding 25,000 tonnes of annual lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) capacity once fully ramped up.
Both projects reached first production in the second quarter, ahead of plan
Both assets are now ramping up. Argentine President Javier Milei and Catamarca Governor Raúl Jalil joined Rio Tinto Chief Executive Simon Trott at the inauguration, along with employees, suppliers and representatives of local and Indigenous communities.
Milei called the Fénix expansion a historic milestone and said Argentina had again created incentives for producing essential resources.
Fénix 1B adds 10,000 tonnes, lifting the site's target to about 40,000 tonnes of LCE
Fénix began operations in 1997 as Argentina's first commercial lithium operation. The 1B expansion raises its total annual LCE capacity target to approximately 40,000 tonnes.
Sal de Vida is a new lithium carbonate operation about 20 kilometres northeast of Fénix, with an annual LCE capacity target of 15,000 tonnes.
Rio Tinto targets 200,000 tonnes of annual LCE capacity globally by 2028
Trott said the two projects show "industry-leading project delivery capability" as the company works toward that 2028 target. He said the focus now is safely ramping up production and delivering reliable, high-quality lithium to customers.
The projects build on nearly three decades of lithium production in Catamarca. Rio Tinto's Argentine lithium business also spans operations and projects in Jujuy and Salta, including the Rincon lithium project.
Local suppliers are expected to capture about 70% of $4 billion in growth capital
Rio Tinto expects around 70% of the approximately $4 billion in growth capital to be invested across its Argentine lithium operations to be spent with local suppliers.