Rio Tinto opens lithium projects for Rio Tinto stock investors

Published on 10/29/2026 at 10:46 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Rio Tinto opens two lithium projects, adding 25,000 tonnes of annual capacity. Rio Tinto stock costs EUR 76.50 on October 29, 2026.

Lithium capacity enters ramp-up

Rio Tinto opened the Fenix 1B and Sal de Vida projects on October 29, 2026, after a USD 1.4 billion investment.
The projects add 25,000 tonnes of annual lithium carbonate equivalent capacity once fully ramped up.
Rio Tinto stock trades at EUR 76.50 at 10:39 a.m. CET at Lang & Schwarz on October 29, 2026.

Rio Tinto, GB0007188757, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Rio Tinto (ISIN GB0007188757) officially opened its Fenix 1B expansion and Sal de Vida lithium operation in Argentina on October 29, 2026, after a combined investment of USD 1.4 billion. The company said both projects achieved first production in the second quarter ahead of plan and are now ramping up, according to Rio Tinto.

Two projects add 25,000 tonnes

The new capacity is the central operating figure. Fenix 1B adds 10,000 tonnes of annual lithium carbonate equivalent capacity, while Sal de Vida targets 15,000 tonnes. Together, the projects add 25,000 tonnes once fully ramped up.

Rio Tinto described the opening as part of its expansion in Argentina, where its lithium business includes operations and projects in Catamarca, Jujuy and Salta. The company is targeting 200,000 tonnes of global annual lithium carbonate equivalent production capacity by 2028, according to the same October 29 release.

What changes for Rio Tinto?

The immediate investor signal is operational rather than financial: both projects have moved from development into production ramp-up. Fenix 1B lifts the existing Fenix operation's target annual capacity to 40,000 tonnes, while Sal de Vida targets 15,000 tonnes of annual capacity.

The projects also broaden Rio Tinto's commodity mix beyond iron ore, copper and aluminum. The company said its focus is now on safely ramping up production and supplying customers with lithium carbonate.

Stock and project status

Rio Tinto stock was trading at EUR 76.50 at Lang & Schwarz on October 29, 2026, at 10:39 a.m. CET. The latest quote sits within the EUR 58.65 to EUR 96.32 52-week range, while market capitalization stood at EUR 124.6 billion as of October 29, 2026.

The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Rio Tinto stock.