Fleet Space Technologies, a prominent Australian space exploration company, has announced a new collaboration with mining giant Rio Tinto aimed at advancing lithium exploration at the Rincon Lithium Project in Argentina.
The partnership will leverage Fleet Space’s advanced exploration solution, ExoSphere, which combines space-based technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to produce detailed 3D subsurface maps.
The project covers 100 square kilometres of salt flats and surrounding volcanic formations, an area of significant interest for battery-grade lithium carbonate production.
“Rio Tinto and Fleet Space share a commitment to pioneering breakthrough technologies to make net-zero a reality,” said Flavia Tata Nardini, co-founder & CEO of Fleet Space Technologies.
“We are proud to deploy ExoSphere’s real-time multiphysics capabilities in support of Rio Tinto’s data-driven exploration for energy transition minerals.”
“We look forward to bringing the latest innovations in spacetech, 3D multiphysics, and AI to unlock new insights, predictive capabilities, and sustainability benefits to advance the development of world-class operations globally,” Nardini noted.
The Rincon Lithium Project is a high-potential site, expected to contribute significantly to the global supply of battery-grade lithium carbonate, essential for energy transition technologies.
With ExoSphere’s capabilities, Rio Tinto aims to enhance its exploration operations, reducing environmental impact and supporting sustainable development.
The ExoSphere platform includes real-time 3D Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) technology, which uses Fleet Space’s satellite network to generate subsurface imagery rapidly and with minimal environmental disruption.
Fleet Space’s ExoSphere system, recognised internationally for innovation and environmental impact, won both the Climate Technology Impact Award at the Banksia Foundation’s National Sustainability Awards and the Innovation category at the Mining Technology Excellence Awards 2024.
Its design allows real-time data acquisition and transmission through a network of satellites, providing high-resolution, 3D subsurface insights at depths up to 5 kilometres.
The end-to-end solution has helped Fleet Space become one of Australia’s fastest-growing companies, with a valuation doubling to AUD 350 million following a successful AUD 50 million Series C funding round.
With the Rincon Lithium Project, Rio Tinto and Fleet Space aim to deliver a model for low-impact, high-efficiency exploration, aligning with global efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.
