Thacker Pass Lithium Project: Powering the global EV revolution from Nevada’s high desert

Located in Humboldt County, Nevada, the Thacker Pass Lithium Project is one of the largest known lithium deposits in North America. As of 2025, it plays a central role in the United States‘ domestic push to secure critical mineral supply chains amid intensifying global demand for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage solutions. Discovered in 2017 within the McDermitt Caldera, the project has gained strategic significance due to its scale, shallow mineralization, and potential to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate for decades. Thacker Pass stands at the intersection of geopolitics, clean energy transition, and mining innovation, drawing attention from policymakers, automakers, and environmental stakeholders alike.

Who Operates the Thacker Pass Lithium Project in 2025?

The Thacker Pass Lithium Project is operated by Lithium Nevada Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lithium Americas Corp. Following a corporate restructuring in 2023, Lithium Americas separated its North American and Argentine operations, with the former retaining full control over Thacker Pass. In December 2024, Lithium Americas and General Motors Holdings LLC finalized a joint venture agreement, with Lithium Americas holding a 62% interest and GM holding a 38% stake in the project. This partnership underscores GM’s commitment to securing a domestic supply of lithium for its electric vehicle production.

What Is the Production Capacity of Thacker Pass and Its Lithium Reserves?

Thacker Pass contains an estimated 13.7 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in measured and indicated resources, making it one of the largest known lithium claystone deposits globally. The project is planned to be developed in multiple phases. Phase 1 targets an annual production capacity of 40,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027. Subsequent phases aim to increase total production capacity to 160,000 tonnes per year over a 13-year period, extending the mine’s life to approximately 85 years.

How Will Lithium from Thacker Pass Reach Battery Markets?

Given its remote location, the Thacker Pass Lithium Project relies on a robust transportation and processing logistics framework. Lithium carbonate produced onsite will be transported by truck and rail to downstream processing facilities and battery manufacturing hubs, primarily in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast. Lithium Americas plans to integrate direct shipping capabilities through agreements with transloading terminals connected to major railway networks. No on-site refining for battery-grade hydroxide is planned at Thacker Pass in 2025, but joint-venture discussions are underway for future conversion infrastructure. As North American battery gigafactories scale, the supply chain for critical minerals like lithium is expected to become more localized, and Thacker Pass is at the heart of that evolution.

From Discovery to Groundbreaking: Thacker Pass Project Timeline

Since its discovery in 2017, the Thacker Pass Lithium Project has passed through multiple permitting, litigation, and financing phases. The project received its Record of Decision (ROD) from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in early 2021 under the Trump administration. Environmental opposition intensified in 2021–2022, resulting in legal challenges from conservation groups and local tribes citing water rights, sacred lands, and ecological risks. In February 2023, a U.S. federal judge upheld the project’s BLM permit, though appeals remained ongoing into 2024. Construction activities formally commenced in March 2023, supported by a $650 million investment from General Motors and a conditional $2.26 billion DOE loan guarantee approved in 2024 under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. By early 2025, site grading, earthworks, and initial civil works for processing facilities were visibly advancing.

Environmental and Political Controversies Surrounding Thacker Pass

The Thacker Pass Lithium Project remains a focal point in the broader debate over green energy versus land conservation. Environmental groups, including the Western Watersheds Project and the Great Basin Resource Watch, have protested against the project’s potential impact on sage grouse habitat, groundwater aquifers, and tribal cultural sites. The Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe has been divided on the issue, with some members supporting job creation and others opposing mining on ancestral lands. Legal appeals have slowed but not halted the project, and in 2025, regulatory uncertainty remains as new petitions against water permits and federal fast-tracking are evaluated. The Biden administration’s policies supporting critical mineral security have kept the project high on the strategic agenda, despite ongoing domestic opposition. Emissions policies, biodiversity loss, and environmental justice narratives continue to shape public opinion around Thacker Pass.

How Does Thacker Pass Impact the Global Lithium Supply Chain?

Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass is poised to become a cornerstone of North America’s lithium independence strategy. At full Phase 2 output, the project could meet the lithium demand for approximately one million electric vehicles per year. This is particularly important in light of China’s dominance in global lithium refining and supply, which exceeds 70% of market share as of 2025. Thacker Pass, once operational, will contribute to reshoring U.S. battery material production and align with the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) domestic sourcing mandates. Automakers such as General Motors, Ford, and Tesla have taken a close interest in Thacker Pass as they seek to qualify their EVs for federal tax credits under IRA mineral sourcing guidelines. Globally, the project strengthens U.S. negotiating power in the critical minerals trade and serves as a potential model for environmentally controlled lithium extraction using claystone leaching rather than hard rock or brine evaporation.

What Are the Latest Thacker Pass Updates in 2025?

As of Q2 2025, Lithium Americas reported that construction remains on track for its late-2027 commissioning timeline. CEO Jonathan Evans, in the company’s latest earnings call, indicated that 60% of Phase 1 engineering and procurement activities had been completed, with major earthworks underway. The DOE’s loan disbursement process was activated in Q1 2025, releasing an initial tranche of $400 million. Meanwhile, discussions for Phase 2 financing have progressed with several institutional investors expressing conditional interest. In April 2025, the company signed an MoU with a leading battery recycler to explore integrated lithium circularity. Lithium Americas also submitted an updated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP), reflecting improvements in carbon intensity reduction due to alternative power sourcing and heat recovery systems.

Forecasting the Future: What Lies Ahead for Thacker Pass?

The Thacker Pass Lithium Project is expected to be a cornerstone asset for Lithium Americas for decades. With an estimated 40-year mine life, the project offers long-term exposure to the rapidly growing electric mobility and energy storage sectors. Industry analysts forecast rising lithium demand through at least 2040, with a growing emphasis on ethical and traceable sourcing. Future plans for Thacker Pass include the implementation of direct lithium extraction (DLE) pilot technologies to improve efficiency and sustainability, although as of 2025, traditional acid leaching remains the primary method. Analysts expect the asset to anchor future partnerships with cathode manufacturers and vertically integrated gigafactories. A proposed Phase 3 expansion could further raise output, while market watchers await new offtake agreements with non-automotive sectors, such as grid-scale storage. The overall sentiment among institutional investors remains bullish, contingent on successful commissioning and social license to operate.