Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof has formalized a cooperation agreement with Mexico’s state lithium company, LitioMx, through the Argentine province’s scientific research commission, CIC. This initiative aims to foster collaborative research between Argentina and Mexico in the development of lithium and its associated value chain.
The agreement was signed during Kicillof’s visit to Mexico for the inauguration of President Claudia Sheinbaum. Kicillof emphasized the strategic importance of lithium for Latin America, stating, “We are going to protect it so that it does not become a business for speculators.” He highlighted the need for a collective approach to tackle regional challenges, asserting that no single nation can solve these issues in isolation.
President Sheinbaum addressed the specifics of lithium extraction in Mexico, noting that the lithium found in the country, particularly in Sonora and other northern states, requires different extraction technologies compared to those used in Argentina and Chile. She explained that in Mexico, lithium is often mixed with clays, necessitating unique methodologies for extraction.
Sheinbaum mentioned that the Mexican Petroleum Institute (IMP) has developed a technology for extracting lithium from clays and that the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt) is also working on innovative approaches. The goal is to establish a complete lithium production chain in Mexico as part of the Sonora Plan, which aligns with LitioMx and the nationalization of lithium resources.
In a previous statement, Sheinbaum indicated that if elected, IMP geologists would lead efforts to develop new extraction technologies to enhance Mexico’s lithium industry and support the growth of the electromobility sector. Additionally, she has proposed involving the state oil company Pemex in lithium and renewable energy projects, raising questions about the future direction of LitioMx.
