Galan to produce 4,000 mt/yr lithium carbonate in Argentina from Q1 2027

Galan Lithium Ltd said Oct. 30 it expected to reach an initial 4,000 metric ton/year production rate of lithium carbonate equivalent in first-half 2027 at Phase 1 of its major Hombre Muerto West (HMW) brine project in Argentina.

The company is also working on a Phase 2 expansion that would bring the project to 5,200 mt/year capacity.

Production at 4,000 mt/year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at the Hombre Muerto West (HMW) mine site in Catamarca province will be achieved as warmer weather conditions arrive, the company stated in a market update.

Earthworks have commenced for the Phase 2 expansion, with higher production volumes targeted from second-half 2027.

The company said it remains on track for first lithium chloride concentrate sales in fourth-quarter calendar year 2026. More than three months of nanofiltration data have been recorded at the plant, supporting a targeted production upgrade to 6% lithium content.

The Puna region in the Andes, where HMW is located, in recent months endured one of the most severe winter periods in recent history with significant snowfall and wind, leading to minor periods when operations were suspended.

To provide greater operational resiliency through future winters, additional pressure vessel capacity is to be constructed and mobilized to site, augmenting the existing Phase 1 plant capacity, it said.

HMW is described as a low-cost brine operation in the first quartile of the global cost curve.

Australia-listed Galan said it is also mapping lithium-bearing pegmatite rock at its Greenbushes South deposit in Western Australia.