Argentina is now on the forefront of a global scramble for lithium—the white metal essential to making the batteries needed to power electric vehicles. And while mining for clean energy minerals is surprisingly dirty, new technology may reduce its impact on ecosystems and local communities. It could give Argentina a sustainable gold rush. The country has just two mines in operation today, but 13 more are planned and dozens more are under consideration—the world’s largest lithium project pipeline. Mining company Lake Resources is now laying the groundwork for a salt lake lithium mine in Catamarca, Argentina—dubbed Kachi. Using technology from California-based start-up Lilac Solutions, the venture aims to start producing lithium carbonate (the metal compound that battery manufacturers buy) in 2024, delivering 50,000 metric tons a year by 2025. Pictured here: Lake Resources lays the ground for its Kachi lithium mine; Brines extracted from the salt lake at Kachi are held in a well; Workers monitor machines at the Kachi lithium mine. Read more at the link in our bio. Photographs by Sebastián López Brach (@lopezbrachs) for TIME