Standardization Institutes of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile shared experiences and opportunities for collaboration in the development of international lithium standards

Last Wednesday, September 28, 2022, the Natural Resources Division (DRN) of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) organized a first meeting between the Standardization Institutes of Argentina (IRAM), Bolivia (IBNORCA) and Chile (INN) as a space to identify opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration in the field of lithium standardization.

The meeting was held within the framework of the Permanent Forum for Technical Dialogue on Innovation, Technological Development and Adding Value to Lithium, which brings together representatives of YPF Tecnología (Y-TEC) from Argentina, Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) and the CORFO of Chile. The Forum seeks to articulate a vision of technological and productive regional integration around lithium, promote cooperation mechanisms in the addition of value in the lithium chain, and exchange knowledge and experiences.

The Lithium Triangle concentrates more than 56% of the lithium resources identified in the world. In addition, Latin America accounts for about 32% of the world’s production of the mineral (currently Argentina, Chile and Brazil produce lithium on an industrial scale). The lithium deposits in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are found in brine deposits that, except for the particularities and composition of each salt flat, share important technical aspects in the extraction of lithium, the refining of compounds and the export of materials.

On this occasion, the Standardization Institutes of each country highlighted the status of the respective participation in the Technical Committee for the international development of standards related to lithium (ISO/TC 333), in particular national mechanisms such as mirror committees from each country that bring together stakeholders and experts involved in lithium standardization.

The Lithium Technical Committee of the International Standards Organization (ISO/TC 333) was established in May 2020 with the aim of developing international standardization in the field of mining, extraction, concentration, separation and conversion of lithium to lithium compounds/materials (such as oxides, salts, metals, lithium-ion battery materials). lithium, etc.) ISO/TC 333 is currently working on the development of 12 international standards that consider terminology, analysis methods and the determination of impurities in lithium carbonate, hydroxide or chloride, among other topics.

The respective Standardization Institutes of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are participating members of ISO/TC 333, and contribute in the nomination of experts, as well as in the preparation and approval of international standard projects. The Argentine Institute for Standardization and Certification (IRAM) highlighted the experience of its Mineral Products Subcommittee in mining standardization activities, as well as IRAM’s involvement in various ISO/TC 333 working groups. In addition, IRAM explained that the committee The national mirror has members from Y-TEC, from the University of La Plata, and other interested parties such as representatives of lithium exploitation projects in operation, research and development entities, private laboratories, the National Mining Secretariat and the mining entities of the provinces with litiferous projects.

For its part, the Bolivian Institute for Standardization and Quality (IBNORCA) emphasized that, based on the country’s involvement in ISO/TC 333, the National Technical Committee for lithium issues – CTN 8.11, has been created, with the participation of representatives from YLB, the National Registration and Control Service, the College of Geologists, universities in the country, as well as the Vice Ministry of High Energy Technologies, among other representatives of Bolivian institutions. In 2022, the Institute launched a new call for accreditation in the national committee, in order to identify the priority standards and the topics in which it can best contribute to the international debate.

The National Institute for Standardization (INN) of Chile mentioned that it is one of the founding members of ISO, and that it participates in all the ISO/TC 333 working groups, having nominated experts in each of them. The INN, which has already published at least 2 national regulations regarding the extraction of lithium in brine, also has a mirror committee that currently has 14 members (including State Organizations (CORFO, Ministry of Mining, CCHEN, COCHILCO) ; Producers (SQM, Albemarle, CODELCO); Academy (University of Antofagasta); Customs, among others).

During this first meeting, it has become clear how the three countries share a great potential for technical-scientific collaboration and in the standardization of lithium. In addition to ISO membership, the countries also mentioned that they are members of the Pan American Commission for Technical Standards (COPANT) – a benchmark for technical standardization and conformity assessment of standards in the region.

Appreciating the facilitation of ECLAC, the Standardization Institutes confirmed their interest in continuing the collaboration between the parties, and agreed to a new meeting for November 2022 with the aim of identifying specific topics for subregional collaboration.