Livent Corporation announced that it has begun a voluntary, third-party assessment of its brine-based lithium extraction and manufacturing operations at the Salar del Hombre Muerto, Catamarca, Argentina. This independent assessment of the company's Fenix site is the next step in the multi-stage review against the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) Standard for Responsible Mining.
The IRMA Standard is widely considered to be the most comprehensive and rigorous set of requirements for mining industries, with a multi-stakeholder approach for defining robust criteria and evaluating performance in environmental management, labor practices, human rights, health & safety and community interests.
Livent began the IRMA self-assessment of its Fenix site in February of 2021, becoming the first company in Argentina to begin the process and one of the first in the global lithium industry. With the commencement of the third-party assessment, Livent is now a full member of IRMA, joining other leading companies and organizations around the world who share the objective of advancing responsible mining.
We began our journey with IRMA knowing that it would be an intensive, multi-year undertaking. Despite the demanding process, our teams are excited about beginning this next stage and welcome it as an opportunity for Livent to strengthen our sustainability program, including our efforts to engage with our local communities. We fully support IRMA's mission and are confident that Livent's participation in IRMA will result in better outcomes for our company, our stakeholders in Argentina and around the world, and the lithium industry as a whole."
Paul Graves, president and chief executive officer of Livent
"Increasingly, the world wants to understand the impacts of raw material extraction and to better protect communities and the environment on which we all depend. The Fenix assessment provides an opportunity for Livent to encourage input, increase transparency and explore ways to improve practices at the site," said Aimee Boulanger, IRMA's Executive Director.
SCS Global Services (SCS), an IRMA-approved certification body, is conducting the third-party assessment, beginning with a desk review followed by an onsite audit. The auditors will review and verify data and policies; interview site managers, employees and external stakeholders, including nearby communities; identify areas for improvement; and publicly disclose the assessment results on the IRMA website.
About Livent
For nearly eight decades, Livent has partnered with its customers to safely and sustainably use lithium to power the world. Livent is one of only a small number of companies with the capability, reputation, and know-how to produce high-quality finished lithium compounds that are helping meet the growing demand for lithium. The company has one of the broadest product portfolios in the industry, powering demand for green energy, modern mobility, the mobile economy, and specialized innovations, including light alloys and lubricants. Livent employs approximately 900 people throughout the world and operates manufacturing sites in the United States, England, India, China and Argentina.