(All amounts in US$ unless otherwise indicated)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--$LAC #Nevada--Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC) ("Lithium Americas" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of a $2.26 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy's ("DOE") Loan Programs Office ("LPO") under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing ("ATVM") Loan Program (the "DOE Loan") for financing the construction of the processing facilities at Thacker Pass, located in Humboldt County, Nevada ("Thacker Pass" or the "Project").
HIGHLIGHTS
The DOE Loan for $2.26 billion will have interest rates fixed from the date of each monthly advance for the term of the loan at applicable U.S. Treasury rates. The DOE Loan amount includes funding of interest accrued during construction.
The DOE Loan will help finance the construction of Thacker Pass, targeted to produce an initial 40,000 tonnes per annum ("tpa") of battery-quality lithium carbonate ("Phase 1"). The Company is targeting to make the final investment decision ("FID") and issue full notice to proceed ("FNTP") by the end of the year.
Thacker Pass Phase 1 is expected to create approximately 1,800 direct jobs during its three-year construction period and approximately 360 full time jobs during operations for its 40-year mine life.
Thacker Pass supports the U.S. government's commitment to securing a domestic supply chain for critical minerals to reduce reliance on foreign materials.
The DOE Loan will be supplemented by the investment agreement ("Investment Agreement") announced on October 16, 2024 with General Motors Holdings LLC ("GM") to establish a joint venture ("JV") for the purpose of funding, developing, constructing and operating ("JV Transaction") Thacker Pass. Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, GM will acquire a 38% asset-level ownership stake in Thacker Pass for $625 million in total cash and letters of credit, including a $195 million letter of credit facility ("LC Facility") that can be used as collateral to support reserve account requirements under the DOE Loan.
"We're pleased to have the Department of Energy's support to advance Thacker Pass to production and significantly improve domestic output of critical lithium supply to meet the growing domestic need," said Jonathan Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lithium Americas. "This essential loan helps us reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and secure America's energy future."
Mr. Evans added, "We have substantially de-risked project financing for Phase 1 and continue to work closely with General Motors following our announcement of the asset-level joint venture. We deeply appreciate the U.S. government's support as we develop Thacker Pass to become North America's largest lithium operator and continue collaborating with all our stakeholders to bring shared success for our company, local communities and our country."
DOE ATVM LOAN DETAILS
The key terms and conditions of the DOE Loan are summarized below:
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The closing of the DOE Loan follows receipt of a Conditional Commitment in March 2024. Over the past several months, the DOE confirmed the Company satisfied all technical, legal and financial conditions to close the DOE Loan.
The Company expects to make the first draw on the DOE Loan sometime in the middle of 2025. Conditions precedent to first draw include closing the GM JV Transaction, funding DOE Loan reserve accounts through the GM LC Facility, securing additional corporate working capital and project finance model bring down.
BACKGROUND
Thacker Pass is currently the largest known Measured and Indicated lithium resource in North America, targeting total production capacity of 80,000 tpa of battery-quality lithium carbonate to be developed in two phases of 40,000 tpa, respectively (Phase 1 and "Phase 2"). Phase 1 production is anticipated to commence in 2027. Material sourced from Thacker Pass will support electric vehicle ("EV") eligibility for consumer incentives under the U.S. clean energy tax credits program. Production could support lithium needs for up to 800,000 EVs annually.
On October 15, 2024, GM and Lithium Americas entered into an Investment Agreement to establish a JV for the purpose of funding the development, construction and operation of Thacker Pass. Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, GM will acquire a 38% asset-level ownership stake in Thacker Pass for $625 million in total cash and letters of credit, including $430 million of direct cash funding to the JV to support the construction of Phase 1 of Thacker Pass and a $195 million LC Facility that can be used as collateral to support reserve accounts requirements under the DOE Loan. The JV announcement follows GM's January 2023 investment of $320 million in Lithium Americas, which resulted in GM acquiring approximately 15 million common shares of Lithium Americas. GM's investments in Lithium Americas and Thacker Pass represent the largest ever publicly announced investment by a U.S. OEM in a lithium carbonate project. GM has exclusive offtake rights for up to 100% of the lithium production from Phase 1 for up to 20 years and a 20-year offtake agreement for up to 38% of Phase 2 production volumes.
Initial construction commenced in early 2023 with site preparation for major construction completed. The Company is currently focused on advancing detailed engineering, procurement and execution planning ahead of making FID, expected by the end of the year, following closing of the GM JV Transaction.
TRANSACTION ADVISORS
In connection with the DOE Loan, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor, and Vinson & Elkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to Lithium Americas.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Rene LeBlanc, PhD, SME, Vice President, Growth and Product Strategy of the Company, and a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K under the United States Securities Act of 1933.
ABOUT LITHIUM AMERICAS
Lithium Americas is committed to responsibly developing the Thacker Pass project located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada, which hosts the largest known Measured and Indicated lithium resource in North America. The Company is focused on advancing Thacker Pass Phase 1 towards production; targeting nameplate capacity of 40,000 tpa of battery-quality lithium carbonate. The Company and its engineering, procurement and construction management contractor, Bechtel, entered into a National Construction Agreement (Project Labor Agreement) with the North America's Building Trades Unions for construction of Thacker Pass. The three-year construction build is expected to create approximately 1,800 direct jobs. Lithium Americas' shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LAC. To learn more, visit or follow @LithiumAmericas on social media.
