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Foreign companies vie for stakes in industry;French push Eramet involvement.
Argentina expects investment in its lithium industry to increase significantly over the next few years, after companies from across the world approached the country's government to register their interest in entering the sector.
Businesses from Japan, France, South Korea, China and Australia are set to compete in what has become popularly described as "la guerra del litio", or "lithium war", after sharp growth in demand for lithium in battery applications gained worldwide attention.
The Argentinean provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca have all been earmarked for tenders to conduct lithium exploration by international companies, according to local daily newspaper, La Nacion.
Argentina's newly-elected centre-right president, Mauricio Macri, who took office last...