June 19 (Reuters) - Costs of the first phase of construction at American Lithium's (LI.V) Falchani lithium mine in Peru likely have risen some 20% from an original estimate to $700 million, the chief executive of the firm said in an interview.
"If you think about the post-COVID world and inflationary pressures, that bill (of $580 million) is probably more like $700 million today," CEO Simon Clarke said.
Peru, the world's second-largest copper producer, is vying for a piece of the pie in the booming lithium market.
Nearby Chile, Argentina and Bolivia form a so-called "lithium triangle," with massive deposits, but the Canadian-owned Falchani project is currently the only one under way in Peru, where deposits are estimated to be much smaller.
If all goes according to plan, construction could begin at Falchani by late 2024 or late 2025, Clarke said, to begin production in late 2026 or early 2027.
Persons:
Simon Clarke, Clarke, Kylie Madry, Marco Aquino, Sandra Maler
Organizations:
Peruvian, Thomson
Locations:
Peru, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Canadian, Falchani