DHL Industrial Projects provides logistics services to Livent at 4,000 meters above sea level

DHL Industrial Projects, a unit of DHL Global Forwarding that manages complex project logistics, deep sea chartering activity and heavy-lift cargo, has been supporting Livent with the expansion of its production facility in El Salar del Hombre Muerto in the province of Catamarca, Argentina. This includes international shipments, ocean charters for prefabricated modularised cargo, airfreight, storage, and domestic inland transportation for one of the biggest providers of lithium compounds and leaders in lithium extraction. Prefabricated modules and other materials are transported from Asia, North America, and various locations in Europe. DHL was chosen as the partner of choice for this project, owing to its experience in previous projects in Latin America and excellent service level. 

“Logistics, especially under challenging conditions, is all about expertise, flexibility and reliability. All this is part of our DNA,” says Ryan Foley, CEO DHL Industrial Projects. “For this project, it was particularly important to implement special health and safety measures for all involved, and to work closely with local residents as well. We have expanded our personnel services, such as providing oxygen tests to our drivers and offering transfers. DHL Industrial Projects has once more proven to be the provider of choice, even when the air gets thin.”

With the production site located at about 4,000 metres above sea level, DHL was contracted to provide numerous services for Livent, ranging from chartering and movement of over-sized cargo to personnel transfers to the site. Factors such as the extreme weather conditions, lack of oxygen and limited telephone signal, among others, required highest HSE standards and additional safety arrangements for the staff. DHL team members, based at the Livent facilities, ensured maintenance of excellent service. These team members provided satellite mobile phones to ensure connectivity through the entire transportation chain or support with the compliance of safety standards by providing regular check-ups on blood oxygen levels for drivers.

As the employment of residents and the development of local vendors are of high priority for Livent, DHL supported this initiative by providing personnel transfer to the sites, as well as enhancing the visibility of the local vendors involved in the project development. Services were monitored from a central control tower based in Chile, enhancing end-to-end processes.

Livent is one of the biggest providers of lithium compounds and a leader in lithium extraction and purification technology. The raw material has a number of uses, notably being used in batteries for e-mobility – powering the next generation of mobility and the move to green energy. 

“We are looking forward to further cooperation with DHL Industrial Projects. The company brings exactly the expertise we need for our complex and challenging projects and is flexible and networked enough to reliably support our business”, says Karen Flynn, Procurement Director at Livent. “The shared vision of a more sustainable future is another plus.”