Rio Tinto confirms US$2.5 billion investment in Rincón, targets 50,000 tonnes per year of lithium

The mining company confirmed in Salta the development of the Rincón Lithium project under Argentina’s RIGI framework, with production expected to begin in 2028 and total capacity reaching 50,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium carbonate.

Rio Tinto reaffirmed in the Argentine province of Salta Province its US$2.5 billion investment to develop the Rincón Lithium Project, an initiative structured under the Régimen de Incentivo a las Grandes Inversiones (RIGI). The plan contemplates an annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate, strengthening the company’s position within the Lithium Triangle.

RIGI framework and development timeline

The investment was confirmed during a meeting between provincial authorities and senior company executives, led by the CEO of Aluminium & Lithium, Jérôme Pécresse. The Rincón project is incorporated into the RIGI incentive regime, Argentina’s mechanism aimed at attracting large-scale capital investment through fiscal and regulatory stability.

The total US$2.5 billion capital expenditure will be allocated to processing infrastructure, operational expansion and associated works. Production is scheduled to begin in 2028 with an initial production train of 25,000 tonnes per year, later expanding to the full 50,000-tonne annual capacity.

Production scale and technology

The project includes the operation of two production trains for battery-grade lithium carbonate, marking Rio Tinto’s first commercial lithium operation in Salta. In parallel, the Rincón 3000 pilot plant is already operational, allowing the company to validate technical parameters and optimize processing performance.

Complementary works involve camp expansion, logistics infrastructure development and energy upgrades, all critical elements for a high-capacity operation in an Andean setting.

Regional impact and competition in the Lithium Triangle

From a regional standpoint, the progress of Rincón reinforces competition for mining capital within the Lithium Triangle, composed of Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.

For Chile — the world’s leading copper producer and a key lithium player — the accelerated development of Argentine projects under the RIGI framework introduces a new investment-attraction dynamic, supported by differentiated incentives.

Salta currently hosts one of Argentina’s largest portfolios of lithium projects under development, seeking to consolidate its role as an industrial-scale production hub.

Social license and operational sustainability

During the meeting, provincial authorities emphasized the importance of social license and environmental sustainability as structural pillars of mining development. The company stated its intention to deepen engagement with local communities, continuing a strategy initiated in 2022 following the acquisition of the project.

In lithium brine projects, water management, community relations and energy infrastructure are decisive variables for both project timelines and long-term viability.

Rio Tinto’s global lithium strategy

Rincón forms part of Rio Tinto’s broader diversification strategy into critical minerals essential for the energy transition. Lithium, a key input for electric vehicle batteries and stationary storage systems, has become one of the main growth pillars in the portfolios of major mining companies.

The projected output of 50,000 tonnes per year would position Rincón among the region’s significant lithium operations, contributing to the global supply of battery-grade lithium.