Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp (TSX-V:LIT, OTCQX:LILIF) CEO Nikolaos Cacos talked with Proactive about advancing the company’s flagship Rincon West lithium project in northwestern Argentina and a new partnership aimed at accelerating development toward production.
Cacos explained that the company operates within Argentina’s lithium triangle, one of the most prolific regions globally for lithium brine resources.
The company currently holds four projects in the region, with Rincon West now the primary focus following the announcement of a maiden resource.
Cacos outlined how the company is moving the project forward through critical engineering and economic milestones, including an upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), followed by pre-feasibility and feasibility studies. He said these steps are essential as the company works toward development and eventual construction.
He also highlighted the advantages of DLE technology compared with traditional evaporation ponds, pointing to lower costs, higher recoveries and reduced environmental impact.
Proactive: Welcome back inside our Proactive newsroom. Joining me now is Nikolaos Cacos, CEO of Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. Niko, good to see you again. How are you?
Nikolaos Cacos: I’m doing very well. Happy New Year.
Happy New Year to you as well. Over the holidays, Argentina Lithium released news about a partnership to use new technology on one of the company’s projects. Can you remind viewers about the project and how this technology fits in?
Absolutely. We are a lithium exploration company focused in northwestern Argentina within the lithium triangle, which is the most prolific place to find lithium on the planet. That’s not only in terms of size and quality, but also because lithium occurs in brine, which allows for very low operating costs.
We have four projects there, but right now we are focused on our flagship project, Rincon West, where we recently announced a maiden resource. To advance the project, we need engineering studies, and that’s where Xi’an Lanshen comes in. It is one of the world’s leading direct lithium extraction providers.
Lanshen will provide technical services, specialised equipment, engineering studies and pilot plant design, essentially taking us all the way to feasibility study. That’s a key milestone, because after that we move into development, construction and eventually production.
You mentioned the importance of direct lithium extraction. Why is choosing the right partner so critical?
Direct lithium extraction is relatively new technology. In the past, lithium was produced using large evaporation ponds, which took years, lost a lot of lithium and was environmentally destructive and expensive.
With DLE, the brine passes through a column that attaches to the lithium and expels water. It has almost negligible environmental impact and extremely low costs. Extraction rates can be as high as 90–95%. Choosing a partner with experience and a proven track record is essential, and Xi’an Lanshen has that history.
Rincon West is currently expected to produce around 5,000 tonnes per year initially, with expansion potential. How important is that flexibility?
It’s very important. Lanshen’s technology is modular, so you can add modules and ramp up production over time. You can start smaller, fine-tune the process, and then expand production as needed.
It sounds like 2026 will be a busy year.
Very busy. We have a PEA coming up, followed by pre-feasibility and feasibility studies. Hopefully within a year we can announce those and then move toward decisions on production.
Quotes have been lightly edited for style and clarity
