South American country’s embassy holds reception
South Korea’s largest steelmaker POSCO Group is scheduled to operate its lithium hydroxide plant in Argentina from the second quarter of next year.
Such news prompted more guests to visit a national day reception hosted by the Embassy of Argentina at the beginning of July in downtown Seoul to celebrate the country’s 207th anniversary of getting independent.
In a recent interview with a local media outlet, Argentina Amb. Alfred Bascou also stressed that there would be tremendous potential in Argentina.
“Argentina contains lithium, magnesium, aluminum, copper and uranium, which are the underground resources needed for Korea’s high-tech industries,” Argentina Amb. Alfred Bascou said in a recent interview with a local media outlet.
“Chile and Argentina, which share the Andes, have the same resources, but Chile has already developed and exported them, while Argentina has little resource development.”
According to the Embassy of Argentina, POSCO’s salt lake in Argentina’s “Ombre Muerto” has 13.5 million tons of lithium reserves. Lithium is a resource called the “second semiconductor.”
If 13.5 million tons is calculated as the price of lithium as of 2025, it will amount to about 220 trillion won.
In the interview, the Argentina diplomat also noted, “Argentina has a natural environment suitable for the development of renewable energy industries such as solar and wind power, so it can develop the energy industry jointly with Korean companies.”
“The world’s fourth-largest reserves of lithium, one of the key materials for electric vehicle batteries. POSCO Group signed an MOU with the Argentine government to expand its lithium plant and cooperate in producing anode materials.”
“The Argentine government does not aim for a primary industrial model that mines and sells resources. We hope to produce anode materials locally with Korean technology and investment.”
Delivering remarks at the reception, he highlighted the need for continuous collaborative efforts from the international community to address climate change and promote carbon neutrality.
Taking part in the event was Italy Amb. Federico FAILLA & his wife, Austria Amb. Wolfgang ANGERHOLZER & his wife, EU Amb. María CASTILLO FERNÁNDEZ, Romania Amb. Cezar-Manole ARMEANU & his wife, Algeria Amb. Mohammed BENSABRI, Pakistan Amb. Nabeel MUNIR, Brazil Amb. Márcia DONNER ABREU, Turkiye Amb. Murat TAMER, Ecuador Amb. Carlos Eduardo EMANUELE MORÁN, Guatemala Amb. Sara Angelina SOLIS CASTAÑEDA, Peru Amb. Paul Fernando DUCLOS PARODI & his wife, Spain Amb. Guillermo KIRKPATRICK & his wife, and Malaysia Amb. LIM Juay Jin.
Argentina Amb. Bascou is a diplomatic expert with the longest experience among ambassadors from various Latin American countries here.
After passing through Algeria, the UAE, Germany, Canada, and China, he was appointed to the Republic of Korea in April 2019, his sixth workplace and arguably the most dynamic country in Northeast Asia.
“When I return to Argentina after completing all five-year terms, I have the last five years of my office. I am eager to work at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Buenos Aires for those five years,” he said.
“A diplomat’s service as an ambassador requires responsibility, pride, and activity, just as a general commands a soldier on a battlefield. It’s been 40 years since I started my career as a diplomat early.”
