Deutsche E Metalle (DEM), a Dresden-based engineering and mining company, has completed its initial drilling campaign at the Carachi Blanco lithium project in Argentina, reporting lithium concentrations of up to 377 mg/L in brine samples. This outcome represents a significant step toward DEM’s aim of establishing an ESG-certified lithium production operation within South America’s so-called Lithium Triangle.
The Carachi Blanco project, located in Catamarca province, covers 27 concessions across 70,000 hectares. According to DEM, it is the only German-backed venture in the region to have identified brine with lithium grades suitable for sustainable extraction. The company estimates that, beginning in 2030, this site could yield enough lithium to support battery production for up to one million electric vehicles per year.
“After three years of intensive project development in Argentina, we are now pleased to announce a very promising lithium discovery following the completion of the drilling campaign,” said DEM CEO Micha Zauner. He noted that both the high lithium grades and favorable brine flow rates underscore the deposit’s strong production potential.
Prior to drilling, DEM conducted extensive geophysical surveys—using Transient Electromagnetics (TEM) and Controlled-Source Audio-frequency Magnetotellurics (CSAMT)—to pinpoint zones of elevated electrical conductivity that typically indicate lithium-rich brines. The exploration also uncovered a high-quality freshwater aquifer, which could help secure the project’s long-term water and energy requirements in this arid region.
International operations are overseen by DEM’s U.S. subsidiary, Lithium Mining Corporation (LMC), while local drilling and environmental studies are managed by its Argentine affiliate, Cuatro Patas SRL. DEM plans to commence commercial lithium production in 2030, targeting roughly 30,000 tons per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) via direct lithium extraction (DLE)—a process seen as more environmentally sustainable than traditional evaporation ponds.
Key milestones before production include completing a feasibility study, obtaining a mining permit, and making a final investment decision. The facility is expected to draw power from renewable sources such as solar energy, geothermal energy, and wind energy.
Source: EV Magazine
