Construction of Argentina’s first lithium battery development plant moves forward

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The installation of the first plant for the technological development of lithium cells and batteries had a new advance today, with the signing of binding agreements at Y-TEC’s headquarters located in Berisso, province of Buenos Aires.

The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MINCyT), the National University of La Plata (UNLP) and YPF’s technology company, and the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) agreed to jointly invest more than ARS 500 (US$ 5) million for the adaptation of buildings, provision of services and purchase of equipment for the future plant, whose objective is to unbundle the technological package and generate the knowledge that will allow the development of the entire industrial process.

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According to the terms of the agreement signed, the MINCyT will contribute ARS 301.5 (US$3) million to Y-TEC, which will allow the project “Development of new technologies for lithium extraction, synthesis of lithium compounds with higher added value and construction of lithium cells and batteries scaling plant” to move forward.

Y-TEC also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Universidad Nacional de la Plata for the start-up of all the plant’s operating instruments, which include the transfer of facilities, the execution of general adaptation works and electrical wiring, as well as the purchase of equipment, raw materials and human resources training, among other needs.

The event was attended by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Daniel Filmus; the Undersecretary of Institutional Coordination of this portfolio, Pablo Nuñez; the President of YPF, Pablo González; the President of Y-TEC, Roberto Salvarezza; the General Manager of Y-TEC, Santiago Sacerdote; the President of the UNLP, Fernando Tauber; and the President of CONICET, Ana Franchi.

On the occasion, Minister Filmus expressed his satisfaction that “different state organizations are working in the same direction and we complement each other in the effort to implement long-term policies. We have had ups and downs in politics that have left science and technology out for years because there was a different country model. We plan to change this productive model, and everything we do has that sense.”

Likewise, Filmus assured that actions like this are in line with “the need to invest in science and technology and thus ensure a perspective that allows us to add value and improve the work capacity of our people, and also the capacity to research and innovate. It seems to me that we are moving in that direction with something essential, that the State must be at the forefront of the energy transition and in the productive chain.”

In his capacity as head of Y-TEC, Salvarezza said: “These agreements will make it possible to deploy the whole strategy associated with lithium, which will make it possible to develop the first batteries built in the country.”

The President of CONICET, Ana Franchi, pointed out that “these agreements for the equipment of the lithium battery factory are significant because the possibility of the country being able to manufacture lithium batteries is a step towards new energies, renewable energies. And this technology must be developed and made available by companies and National Government agencies.”

For his part, the president of YPF, Pablo González, stated: “From YPF, Y-TEC and the recently formed YPF Lithium, we contribute to providing the necessary technology demanded by the provincial government producer governments for the development of this strategic activity for the future of our country. Argentina has an unparalleled potential; we have to take advantage of this and use our natural resources efficiently and go out to the world.”

Finally, the president of the UNLP, Fernando Tauber, especially valued “the coordination between the State, the productive sector and scientific organizations to make this historic event a reality. Once again, we show that our scientific agenda is at the forefront of national development and always in tune with the social demands of our country.” And he added: “This plant will become a reality within our reformist University, involved and committed to the academic activity, knowledge, technological development, and industrial production.”

He also stressed that “with the firm commitment to direct our efforts to develop alternative energies to provide solutions to environmental problems, this project incorporates production and work to the basic pillars of the UNLP, which are teaching, research and extension.”

ABOUT THE PLANT

The plant’s work will be focused on disaggregating the technological package regarding the design and manufacture of the cells and batteries, with a view to the definitive incorporation of the technology and the generation of conditions conducive to the development of future similar or larger plants.

In addition, it will seek to promote the serial industrial development of lithium cells and batteries to meet specific demands of the State and the productive sector, the training of qualified human resources in the field, and the production of knowledge.

In addition to the participation of Y-TEC, the UNLP, and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, the project also includes the Ministry of Defense; CONICET; the Institute of Scientific and Technical Research for Defense (CITEDEF); the Ministry of Production, Science and Technological Innovation of the Province of Buenos Aires; and the Scientific Research Commission (CIC).