From Iron to Ions: Rio Tinto’s Zesty Lithium Pivot
Rio Tinto’s Bold Push to Dominate the Global Lithium Market

Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) is charging full-throttle into the lithium race, and CEO Jakob Stausholm is placing his chips on South America’s Lithium Triangle—Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia—as the epicenter of the world’s low-cost, high-quality lithium supply. Speaking at the Bank of America Global Metals, Mining and Steel Conference on May 13, 2025, Stausholm didn’t mince words: the region’s brine riches are the key to dominating the critical minerals market fueling the energy transition.
Brine is King: Why the Lithium Triangle Shines
“The Lithium Triangle is the sweet spot for lithium projects that can meet soaring global demand while keeping costs razor-sharp,” Stausholm declared. “The brine resources here are unmatched in quality and production efficiency.”
Rio Tinto is backing this bold claim with a $2.5 billion investment to supercharge its Rincon lithium project in Argentina, targeting a robust 60,000 tonnes of annual production by 2028. This move cements the company’s ambition to become a heavyweight in critical minerals, powering electric vehicles (EVs) and battery storage systems worldwide.
But it’s not just about throwing money at the problem. Stausholm’s strategy hinges on direct lithium extraction (DLE), a game-changing technology that’s efficient and eco-friendlier than traditional methods. Rio Tinto’s recent $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium has given it a 28-year head start in DLE expertise. “We’re not dabbling in experiments,” Stausholm quipped. “Arcadium invented DLE. We’re scaling proven tech to produce battery-grade lithium straight from the brine, skipping the costly, multi-step processing hard rock mines demand.”
