Mariana by Ganfeng Lithium: status and timeline

Milestones

Next · Ramp to 20,000 tonnes per year processing capacity

Processing plant $600M investment completedDec 2024Complete.
Phase I production commencedFeb 2025Complete.
First shipments of lithium chloride to ChinaFeb 2026Complete.
Ramp to 20,000 tonnes per year processing capacityTarget 2026Current milestone.
Phase II expansion (under RIGI incentive programme)Target 2027Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

2026Ramp to 20,000 tonnes per year processing capacity (next)
2027Phase II expansion (under RIGI incentive programme)

Current obstacles

High-altitude operationsAt 3,750 metres elevation, logistics, worker health, and equipment reliability present ongoing operational challenges.
Environmental sensitivity at high altitudeAlpine salt flats are ecologically sensitive. Operations must maintain strict environmental compliance and manage water usage carefully.

Physics limits

Brine extraction rate limitsExtracting brines faster than natural recharge depletes the resource. Long-term production requires careful reservoir management.

How it works

2 parts

Brine Extraction

Lithium from salt lake brines

Lithium-rich brines pumped from beneath salt flats; treated with evaporation and chemicals to concentrate lithium chloride.

Chemical Processing

Brine to pure lithium compounds

Concentrated brines processed through chemical separation to battery-grade lithium chloride for battery makers.

Spec sheet

Spec	Mariana
Proven lithium reserves (LCE)	8.1 million tonnes^R (reported)
Processing plant capacity	20,000 tonnes lithium chloride per year^R (reported)
Processing plant investment (CAPEX)	$790 million USD^R (reported)
Deposit elevation	3,750 metres above sea level^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Feb 2026

Major: Ganfeng ships first lithium chloride from Mariana project to ChinaPressCommercial

Feb 2025

Major: Ganfeng's Mariana lithium project begins production in ArgentinaPressHardware

About Ganfeng Lithium

The team behind Mariana

Ganfeng Lithium

Goulamina Mali, Mariana Argentina, top-3 lithium producer

Ganfeng Lithium is one of the world's largest lithium producers with operations across China, Argentina, Australia, Africa, Mexico, and Europe. The company extracts and processes lithium from hard-rock mines and brine projects, supplying battery makers globally.

One of the world's top-3 lithium producers; operates mines and plants in China, Mali, Argentina, Australia, and Mexico.
Goulamina (Mali): 506 kt/yr Phase I production in operation; Phase II under development.
Mariana (Argentina): 8.1M tonnes proven reserves; production began Feb 2025; ramping $600M investment.

ganfenglithium.com (opens ganfenglithium.com)Company profile →

Founded: 200026 yrs
Headquarters: China
Status: Public
Valuation: $12Best. market capOct 2026estimate
Staff: ~8,000
Works in: MaterialsLithium & critical minerals
Coverage: 2 programs · 4 updateslatest 1 Jun 2026checked 11 Oct
Customers: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL) (opens catl.com)BYD (opens bydglobal.com)
People: Li Liangbin (opens en.wikipedia.org)Chairman & CEO

Spec

Mariana

Proven lithium reserves (LCE)

8.1 million tonnes^R (reported)

Processing plant capacity

20,000 tonnes lithium chloride per year^R (reported)

Processing plant investment (CAPEX)

$790 million USD^R (reported)

Deposit elevation

3,750 metres above sea level^R (reported)