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.
路透布宜諾斯艾利斯11月25日電-阿根廷國有能源公司YPF YPFD.BA週四會見了中國主要電池製造商CATL的官員，雙方都在討論成為該行業“戰略合作伙伴”的計劃.
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.
這個南美國家是該地區所謂鋰三角的一部分，正試圖提高這種對電動汽車(EV)革命至關重要的超輕金屬的產量，該國急於通過YPF發揮更核心的作用。
China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL)
中國當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是全球最大的電動汽車電池生產商，但不生產任何鋰。該公司最近在收購專注於阿根廷的礦商Millyear Lithium Corp ML.V.的交易中出價高於阿根廷。
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.
全球對電動汽車(EV)電池金屬的需求激增，今年價格飆升。汽車製造商和電池供應商正越來越多地試圖鎖定供應。
"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.
阿根廷礦業部長阿爾貝託·亨塞爾(Alberto Hensel)在兩家公司會面後發表聲明稱，“在我們旗艦公司致力於鋰業務的新階段，YPF可以成為與CATL在地方層面的戰略合作伙伴。”
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副總裁陳俊偉在聲明中表示，該公司“更多地關注鋰等資源”，並參觀了阿根廷的鹽灘，那裏的金屬是用鹽水提取的。
"We are going to need the support of Argentina and YPF as a strategic partner in lithium," he said.
他説：“我們將需要阿根廷和YPF的支持，作為鋰領域的戰略合作伙伴。”
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主席巴勃羅·岡薩雷斯(Pablo González)表示，與CATL有“很大的合資機會”。YPF主要專注於該國龐大的巴卡穆埃爾塔(Vaca Muerta)頁巖層中的石油和天然氣，儘管它創建了一個新的鋰單元。
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.
他補充説，YPF正在調查北部省份Jujuy、Salta和Catamarca的鋰潛力地區，以進行勘探，並將尋求投資者幫助開發這些地區。
(Reporting by Adam Jourdan; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
(Adam Jourdan報道；Jonathan Oatis編輯)
((adam.jourdan@thomsonreuters.com; +54 1155446882; Reuters Messaging: adam.jourdan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
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