NOA Lithium Brines Inc. has announced a significant discovery at its Rio Grande Project in Argentina's Lithium Triangle—a fresh water source located within the project's boundaries. This discovery is crucial for the lithium brine project's development, as access to industrial water is a critical factor in the arid regions where lithium salars are found. The on-site water source eliminates a major hurdle, potentially reducing both capital and operating costs associated with water procurement and transport.
Gabriel Rubacha, NOA's Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the strategic importance of the water discovery, noting its proximity to areas with the highest lithium concentration and the planned location for production facilities and evaporation ponds. The water well, drilled to a depth of 190 meters in the northern section of the project, is one of three fresh water targets identified, suggesting potential for further water resource expansion.
The Rio Grande Project is part of NOA's extensive land package in Salta Province, Argentina, a region known for its high-grade, low-cost lithium operations. With a preliminary economic assessment expected in Q3 2025, the company is advancing toward an initial production capacity of approximately 20,000 metric tonnes per year of lithium carbonate equivalent, scalable to double that capacity. This development comes at a time when global lithium demand is surging, driven by the growth in electric vehicle adoption and energy storage needs.
NOA's methodical approach to derisking its flagship project and achieving key development milestones underscores its potential to become Argentina's next major lithium producer. The discovery of on-site fresh water at the Rio Grande Project marks a pivotal step forward in this journey, as it addresses one of the most significant challenges in lithium brine extraction in water-scarce environments. The implications extend beyond cost savings to include reduced environmental impact from water transportation and increased operational efficiency, positioning the project favorably in the competitive global lithium market. This development could accelerate NOA's timeline toward production and contribute to meeting the growing demand for lithium, which is essential for the transition to clean energy technologies worldwide.
