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Rincon Lithium ProjectRio Tinto—Rio Tinto ships first commercial lithium carbonate from Rincon starter plant in ArgentinaRincon Lithium ProjectRio Tinto—Rio Tinto secures $1.175 billion in financing from IFC, IDB Invest, EFA, and JBIC for Rincon lithium expansion in Argentina

Rincon Lithium Project

by Rio TintoGBAU

Establish Rio Tinto's first commercial-scale lithium operation in South America.

DeployStage 4 of 5

Starter plant producing 3,000 t/yr (first shipment Mar 2026); expansion to 60,000 t/yr by 2031.

Updated Mar 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Expansion plant construction begins
  1. Rincon project acquisition2022Complete.
  2. Starter plant construction completed2025Complete.
  3. First lithium shipment from RinconMar 2026Complete.
  4. Expansion plant construction beginsTarget Q2 2025Current milestone.
  5. Expansion plant first productionTarget 2028Not yet reached.
  6. Full capacity of 60,000 tonnes per yearTarget 2031Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

  1. Q2 2025Expansion plant construction begins (next)
  2. 2028Expansion plant first production
  3. 2031Full capacity of 60,000 tonnes per year
Primer