Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In
Built byBoxcut Studio

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Streamlined.

© 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Contract Award

    Argentina’s lithium crown bid by 2035: project risk and offtake notes for miners

    November 12, 2026|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    Argentina’s lithium crown bid by 2035: project risk and offtake notes for miners

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    Argentina is forecast by GEM Mining Consulting to overtake Chile as South America’s top lithium producer by 2035, reaching 481,000 tonnes LCE versus Chile’s 426,000 tonnes, within a global supply of 3.55 million tonnes LCE from 150 modelled mines and projects. The projection hinges on the two-stage Pozuelos–Pastos Grandes brine project delivering 90,000 tonnes LCE per year; without it, Argentina would drop to about 391,000 tonnes and lose the lead. Scenario analysis shows 2035 global output ranging from 2.63 to 4.03 million tonnes LCE, prompting GEM to urge offtakers to tie contracts to milestones such as secured financing, commissioning and sustained recovery performance.

    Technical Brief

    • The Pozuelos–Pastos Grandes brine project is structured as a two-stage development totalling 90,000 t/y LCE.
    • Ownership of PPG is split 67% Ganfeng Lithium and 33% Lithium Argentina via a joint venture.
    • GEM’s supply model covers 150 operating, expansion and development assets across 27 countries feeding the 2035 outlook.
    • Chile’s modelled output rises from ~361,000 t LCE in 2026 to 426,000 t LCE in 2035, but with falling global share.
    • Under a constrained-development case, global 2035 supply drops to 2.63 Mt LCE versus the central 3.55 Mt.
    • An accelerated-delivery scenario increases 2035 output to 4.03 Mt LCE, driven by faster project build and ramp-up.
    • A weak-market case assumes a two‑year delay for new projects plus a 10% cut to existing operations from 2027.
    • That weak‑market scenario removes ~529,000 t LCE from 2030 supply, about 17% below the central forecast.
    • GEM advises tying offtake volumes to milestones such as secured financing, commissioning and sustained recovery performance.
    • Supply-chain diversification guidance extends beyond mine location to include processing capacity and transport route robustness.

    Our Take

    GEM Mining Consulting’s separate Volume Scarcity Index work in our database scores lithium at 80/100 and shows only 68% of 2035 demand covered, so even the ‘fast delivery’ scenario of 4.03Mt LCE by 2035 still implies structurally tight conditions that favour lower-cost Argentine brine projects over marginal hard‑rock capacity.

    The projected fall in Chile’s lithium supply share from 18% in 2026 to 12% by 2035 lines up with GEM Mining Consulting’s Chile copper ‘Production‑at‑Risk’ analysis, suggesting that operational and social‑licence risk in Chile is increasingly being priced into long‑horizon investment decisions across multiple commodities.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Brightstar’s 305m gold hit at Two Mile Hill: bulk underground potential for engineers
    Mining
    about 2 hours ago

    Brightstar’s 305m gold hit at Two Mile Hill: bulk underground potential for engineers

    Brightstar Resources has reported its largest Sandstone result at the Two Mile Hill deposit in WA, intersecting 305m at 2.66g/t gold from 503m depth in diamond hole TMHDD26005. The interval contains multiple high-grade zones, including 4.1m at 26.1g/t, 5.5m at 25.2g/t and 4m at higher-grade material within the broader mineralised envelope. The scale and continuity of this intercept materially upgrade the grade-times-width profile of Two Mile Hill, supporting potential for bulk underground mining scenarios and further deep drilling.

    BHP record WA community spend: procurement signals for mining contractors
    Mining
    about 2 hours ago

    BHP record WA community spend: procurement signals for mining contractors

    BHP has reported a record $1.1 billion in community expenditure across Western Australia for FY2026, including $627 million in procurement from Indigenous and Traditional Owner businesses. The miner’s 2026 Western Australia Community Development Report also details more than $850 million in payments to local suppliers, councils and community partners, signalling a heavy regional spend alongside its iron ore and nickel operations. For contractors and service providers, the scale of Indigenous and local sourcing points to strong demand for WA-based capability and joint ventures.

    AIC Mines’ 18.7Mt Mt Cuthbert copper project: planning signals for mine engineers
    Mining
    about 2 hours ago

    AIC Mines’ 18.7Mt Mt Cuthbert copper project: planning signals for mine engineers

    AIC Mines has closed a $70 million acquisition of Materra Metals, securing 100 per cent ownership of the Mt Cuthbert copper project in north‑west Queensland and adding 18.7 million tonnes of copper resources to its portfolio. The company plans a major drilling program in 2027, signalling a shift from resource consolidation to definition drilling and potential mine planning at Mt Cuthbert. For geotechnical and mine planners, the deal points to upcoming demand for pit design, hydrogeology, and infrastructure studies in a historically underdeveloped copper district.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalInfrastructureHazardsEnvironmental