Name of the Project
Thacker Pass lithium project.

Location
The project is located in Humboldt County, Nevada, in the US.

Project Owner/s
Lithium Americas.

Project Description
The project has a proven and probable reserve estimate of 179.4-million tonnes of ore, with an average grade of 3 283 parts per million lithium containing 3.1-million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.

The prefeasibility study (PFS) envisages a large-scale lithium project, with a design capacity of 60 000 t/y of battery-grade lithium carbonate. Phase 1 production is estimated at 30 000 t/y, increasing to 60 000 t/y in Phase 2.

The project will be developed as an openpit mining operation using conventional continuous mining equipment.

Given the soft nature of the deposit, minimal blasting and crushing are expected.

The ore will be processed in a leaching circuit using sulphuric acid to liberate the lithium from the claystone.

Following the leaching process, the lithium-bearing solution will be purified using crystallisers and reagents to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.

The mine plan contemplates mining 509.8-million tonnes of material, comprising 330.4-million tonnes of waste rock and 179.4-million tonnes of ore (delivered to plant) over a 46-year mine life.

With the reliance on sulphuric acid, the project will involve the construction of a 5 280 t/d (Phase 1 – 2 640 t/d ) conventional sulphuric acid plant site. The plant will convert molten sulphur into low-cost sulphuric acid, reducing transportation costs and providing a low-cost source of power.

Excess acid will be sold locally to large users in the region. In addition, the sulphuric acid plant proposes a cogeneration facility, providing enough carbon-free electricity to power the entire project, with excess power being sold to the grid.

Additional infrastructure in Phase 2 includes:

• doubling the sulphuric acid capacity by building a second acid plant;
   
• increasing capacity in ore preparation, leaching, filtration, crystallisation and reagent storage; and
   
• constructing a rail line, with service directly to the plant.

The production process is designed to use conventional and commonly available equipment, arranged to take advantage of the distinctive qualities of the high-grade ore. The process comprises a series of steps to concentrate, separate and produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.

Potential Job Creation
Thacker Pass is expected to employ about 300 people when operational.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $3.9-billion and an internal rate of return of 36.6%.

Capital Expenditure
Initial capital costs, including a 19% contingency, are estimated at $581-million for Phase 1 and at $478-million for Phase 2.

Planned Start/End Date
The PFS envisages initial Phase 1 production capacity of 30 000 t/y of battery-grade lithium carbonate starting in 2022. Phase 2 construction is projected to start in 2025, with added production entering the market by 2026.

Latest Developments
US regulators have moved a step closer toward approving Lithium Americas Corp's Thacker Pass project, launching a review process that could result in final permits to build by 2021.

The step comes as US politicians have been pushing for increased domestic mining of specialised minerals. Lithium is used to make lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. Albemarle is currently the only US producer of lithium.

The US Department of the Interior filed paperwork to ask for public comment over the next year on the Thacker Pass project's environmental-impact statement, according to a post on a government website dated January 21.

The 12-month review process "is a major accomplishment milestone for developing Thacker Pass," Lithium Americas CEO Jon Evans has said.

Lithium America's project could potentially affect streams where the Lahontan cutthroat trout live, according to filings, so regulators have said they will solicit public feedback on that point over the next year. 

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Lithium Americas, email info@lithiumamericas.com.