Argosy Minerals Limited announced further progress at the Rincon Lithium Project, located in Salta Province, Argentina, with 98% of the total works completed for the development of the 2,000tpa lithium carbonate production operation, including current commissioning works at 90% completion, during which the Company has produced battery quality 99.76% lithium carbonate product, towards commencing lithium carbonate production operations. The current commissioning and production test-works phase is scheduled to be completed over coming weeks, leading to then commencing the production ramp-up phase during the current quarter. The Company is targeting to complete the ramp-up phase and achieve steady-state production operations by end of Second quarter of current year 2023.
The 2,000tpa production operation major works comprised three main phases being design, construction and commissioning with the design and construction phases being effectively completed. The plant commissioning works are 90% complete, have produced 1 tonne of battery quality lithium carbonate product, and have advanced toward full integration of plant and systems commissioning, and progressing toward the production ramp-up phase, with; 100% raw materials procurement/acquisition achieved; 100% of operations personnel recruitment and development completed; and 85% plant and equipment commissioning tests performed. Argosy is well positioned to take advantage of current and near-term lithium prices via the 2,000tpa production operations, with the S&P Platts lithium carbonate price CIF North Asia recently trading at USD 75,000/t.