Argentine state energy firm YPF spies lithium tie-ups with China's CATL
Argentine state energy firm YPF spies lithium tie-ups with China's CATL
BUENOS AIRES, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Argentina's state energy company YPF YPFD.BA , making a push into the country's burgeoning lithium sector, met with officials from major Chinese battery maker CATL on Thursday, with both sides talking up plans to become "strategic partners" in the sector.
路透布宜诺斯艾利斯11月25日电-阿根廷国有能源公司YPF YPFD.BA周四会见了中国主要电池制造商CATL的官员，双方都在讨论成为该行业“战略合作伙伴”的计划.
The South American country, part of the region's so-called lithium triangle, is trying to ramp up production of the ultra-light metal that is key to the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, with the state eager to play a more central role via YPF.
这个南美国家是该地区所谓锂三角的一部分，正试图提高这种对电动汽车(EV)革命至关重要的超轻金属的产量，该国急于通过YPF发挥更核心的作用。
China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL)
中国当代安培科技有限公司(CATL)
300750.SZ is the world's largest EV battery manufacturer, but does not produce any lithium. It recently was outbid in a deal for Argentina-focused miner Millennial Lithium Corp ML.V .
300750.SZ是全球最大的电动汽车电池生产商，但不生产任何锂。该公司最近在收购专注于阿根廷的矿商Millyear Lithium Corp ML.V.的交易中出价高于阿根廷。
Demand for the electric vehicle (EV) battery metal is surging worldwide, with prices soaring this year. Carmakers and battery suppliers are increasingly trying to lock in supply.
全球对电动汽车(EV)电池金属的需求激增，今年价格飙升。汽车制造商和电池供应商正越来越多地试图锁定供应。
"YPF can be a strategic partner with CATL at the local level in this new stage dedicated to lithium of our flagship company," Argentina Mining Secretary Alberto Hensel said in a statement after a meeting between the two companies.
阿根廷矿业部长阿尔贝托·亨塞尔(Alberto Hensel)在两家公司会面后发表声明称，“在我们旗舰公司致力于锂业务的新阶段，YPF可以成为与CATL在地方层面的战略合作伙伴。”
CATL Vice President Chen Junwei said in the statement that the firm was "focusing more on resources such as lithium" and that it had visited the salt flats in Argentina, where the metal is extracted using saltwater brine.
CATL副总裁陈俊伟在声明中表示，该公司“更多地关注锂等资源”，并参观了阿根廷的盐滩，那里的金属是用盐水提取的。
"We are going to need the support of Argentina and YPF as a strategic partner in lithium," he said.
他说：“我们将需要阿根廷和YPF的支持，作为锂领域的战略合作伙伴。”
YPF President Pablo González said there were "great opportunities for joint ventures" with CATL. YPF mainly focuses on oil and gas in the country's massive Vaca Muerta shale formation, though it has created a new lithium unit.
YPF主席巴勃罗·冈萨雷斯(Pablo González)表示，与CATL有“很大的合资机会”。YPF主要专注于该国庞大的巴卡穆埃尔塔(Vaca Muerta)页岩层中的石油和天然气，尽管它创建了一个新的锂单元。
He added that YPF was surveying areas with lithium potential in the northern provinces of Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca to explore and would seek investors to help develop them.
他补充说，YPF正在调查北部省份Jujuy、Salta和Catamarca的锂潜力地区，以进行勘探，并将寻求投资者帮助开发这些地区。
(Reporting by Adam Jourdan; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
(Adam Jourdan报道；Jonathan Oatis编辑)
((adam.jourdan@thomsonreuters.com; +54 1155446882; Reuters Messaging: adam.jourdan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
(adam.jesrdan@thomsonreurs.com；+54 1155446882；路透社消息：adam.jesdan.thomsonreurs.com@reurs.net)