Responsible extraction in South America’s Lithium Triangle

Lithium is a key component in the batteries that power electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems, making it essential for the global energy transition. The ‘Lithium Triangle’ region, covering parts of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, hosts about 50 per cent of known global lithium resources in salty brines found in salt flats, or salars. Optimising this potential is crucial for meeting the growing demand for lithium.

However, issues exist around the potential effects of brine mining on sensitive habitats, groundwater and local and indigenous communities. Sustainable and responsible extraction is a key objective of the region: balancing environmental and social considerations against the urgent need for lithium is a complex challenge that requires collaborative approaches.

To help address this challenge, a BGS-led project is investigating the gaps in knowledge, data and capacity that may prevent the responsible production of lithium from the Lithium Triangle. Through collaboration, it will propose a prioritised research roadmap to help address gaps.  

Workshops in South America

In March 2024, in partnership with local institutions, BGS organised and attended workshops across the Lithium Triangle. The team started in Buenos Aires, Argentina, meeting with representatives from the national government, the geological survey and researchers from Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). They then travelled to Salta in the north for workshops with operators and the provincial governments of Salta, Jujuy and Catarmarca.

The team then moved on to Chile, starting in Santiago for workshops with researchers, the geological survey, policymakers and operators. The next workshop was held in Copiapo, in the north of Chile, hosted by the University of Atacama with researchers, local government and indigenous community representatives attending.

The workshops provided participatory space for an open dialogue between different stakeholders. The exchange of views and participants’ experience and insights will aid the development of the research roadmap.

Further work

The team is now working on the outcomes and findings from the workshops. A draft of the final report will be shared openly for feedback and input from workshop participants and interested stakeholders. The aim is for the report and roadmap to be used to identify potential research projects, as well as collaboration opportunities and support applications for funding. All this will aid the responsible scale-up of lithium production from salars in South America.

Thanks

We would like to thank all the participants at the workshops and meetings for their valuable time and engagement. We would also like to thank the British embassies in Argentina and Chile and Simon Chater, who is head of science and innovation at the UK Science & Innovation Network in Argentina, for all their help.

Funding

The project is funded through the UK Science Innovation Network of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Funding was also received from the Chilean embassy.

BGS research team

• Jon Ford
• Rowan Halkes
• Andrew Hughes
• Evi Petavratzi

About the author

Rowan Halkes

Rowan Halkes

Sustainable mineral resources scientist

Find out more