Argentina’s fledgling lithium sector has been torpedoed by the global spread of coronavirus, with operations stalled by a nationwide crackdown and some projects being abandoned as the pandemic has sharpened economic concerns in the country.
Argentina is part of South America’s so-called "lithium triangle", a major sources of the light metal that is key to the development of electrified vehicles. It has been pushing new projects to catch up with neighboring lithium powerhouse Chile.
Those now are hanging in limbo, threatening what the country had hoped would one day be a $2.1-billion lithium export market, according to a government presentation, up from $190-million last year when it shipped 50 000 t of the white metal.