The leading lime company in Latin America has ignited its new kiln, capable of producing about 600 tons of calcium oxide per day, making it the largest in the region.

By Panorama Minero

Calidra Group announced the commissioning of its new kiln at its La Laja plant in San Juan, Argentina. This is the largest Maerz lime calcination kiln in the Southern Cone, with a production capacity of 600 tons of high-grade, high-reactivity calcium oxide per day, equivalent to about 219,000 tons per year.

With this new kiln, Calidra Cono Sur’s total production capacity exceeds 920,000 tons annually, placing it among the largest producers in the region and the leader in Argentina.

This vertical kiln, utilizing Swiss PFR (Parallel Flow Regenerative) technology, is the fifth of its kind inaugurated by the leading lime sector company in Latin America and Argentina. These kilns produce lime meeting the highest market standards, a product with widely diverse applications in general industry and mining due to its chemical and physical properties.

"With this new milestone, combined with deposits containing 96-98% pure calcium carbonate, Calidra continues to look to the future, betting on innovation and establishing itself as a leading and reliable company in the industry, offering a sustainable value proposition and ensuring a constant and secure supply," the company stated.

Backed by over 115 years of experience in the lime industry, Calidra currently supplies major clients in various industries such as mining (copper, gold, lithium), steelmaking, construction, paper, sugar, and paint, among others.

In the Southern Cone, the company markets its limes, carbonates, and derivatives in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay from its operational bases in Chile and Argentina. It has three plants in the province of San Juan, one in Neuquén, and one in central Chile, employing hundreds of people and leading the market in supply capacity.