Recently, the Mariana Salt Lake plant, built by China Railway No.10 Engineering Group, a subsidiary of CREC, was officially put into operation in Argentina.
Located in Salta Province, Argentina, approximately 479 kilometers from the city of Salta, the project began in May 2022. The project team faced harsh construction conditions, including high altitudes and strong wind and sand. They scientifically selected specialized high-altitude equipment and maintenance tools, introduced advanced plateau adaptation technologies, increased the frequency of daily inspections and maintenance, and proactively protected critical equipment components.
Given the complex soil and geological conditions in the highland area, especially the compacted salt crust on the surface in the construction area, the project team innovatively applied a highland hard salt soil processing technique for the first time in Argentina. They used milling machines to treat the surface and then used graders to level it to the design surface, saving on transportation, backfilling, and other construction steps. This not only reduced equipment investment but also significantly shortened the construction period, laying the foundation for project profitability.
The construction of this plant is an important part of the lithium industrialization process in Salta Province. After production begins, the plant will achieve an annual output of 20,000 tons of lithium chloride, driving the economic development of Salta Province and creating more than 11,600 direct or indirect jobs. It will also have a profound impact on the mining industry in Salta.
