Thacker Pass Lithium Mine construction has entered a major execution phase as processing facilities rise across the Nevada development. The $2.93 billion Phase 1 project now targets mechanical completion in late 2027. Meanwhile, Lithium Americas continues installing structural steel, electrical systems, piping and major process equipment.
The project sits in Humboldt County, northern Nevada, and represents a major US critical-minerals development. Phase 1 will produce up to 40,000 metric tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually.
Lithium Americas started construction before Emerson joined the project. Emerson later secured a contract to provide automation technologies and technical services for the mine and processing facilities.
The partnership will integrate process control, measurement instrumentation, valves and reliability technologies. Consequently, the systems should support safer operations, improved reliability and more efficient processing.
Thacker Pass Lithium Mine advances major construction
Construction has accelerated considerably since the original 2025 project update. By June 30, 2026, detailed engineering had exceeded 95% completion. Procurement had also surpassed 80%, including major equipment shipments.
More than 1,600 personnel worked at the site by June 2026. Lithium Americas expects that figure to exceed 2,000 workers during the second half of 2026.
Meanwhile, structural steel installation continues across several processing facilities. Crews are also transitioning into piping and electrical construction as the project advances.
The development has already installed the first electrical room and a 115kV power transformer. It has also placed control enclosures and progressed high-voltage infrastructure.
Furthermore, the company has delivered approximately 100 prefabricated pipe-rack modules. Those modules contain pre-installed piping manufactured at the Winnemucca fabrication facility.
Major equipment installation now covers several processing areas. These include lithium carbonate crystallization, magnesium sulfate, filtration, sulfuric acid and countercurrent decantation facilities.
The project also continues construction of its transload terminal near Winnemucca. The facility will provide an important logistics hub for reagents during operations.
Thacker Pass Lithium Mine targets late-2027 completion
Lithium Americas continues targeting mechanical completion in late 2027. The company also expects early utility commissioning to begin during the second half of 2026.
The project’s $2.93 billion total capital estimate includes Phase 1 construction. By June 30, 2026, the company had capitalized $1.8 billion in construction and related project costs.
For 2026, Lithium Americas expects total Phase 1 capital expenditure between $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion. However, tariffs and supply-chain pressures could affect the final cost profile.
The company estimates tariff exposure between $80 million and $100 million. It continues monitoring trade restrictions, logistics constraints and inflation affecting construction inputs.
The project has also achieved significant safety progress. Workers completed 3.42 million hours without a serious injury or lost-time incident by June 30.
The wider US critical-minerals construction drive extends beyond lithium. For example, the planned US Magnet Recycling Plant in Missouri will target domestic recovery of high-purity rare earth materials. This development complements Thacker Pass by strengthening another part of America’s critical-minerals supply chain.
Emerson’s automation package remains important as Thacker Pass transitions toward commissioning. Its systems will support monitoring and control across the mine and processing infrastructure.
Caltrol, Emerson’s regional Impact Partner, will also provide local valve and instrument repair services. The company will support maintenance, engineering standards and emergency response.
Once operational, Phase 1 will support approximately 40,000 tones of lithium carbonate production annually. The development also offers potential expansion toward 160,000 tones annually across later phases.
Construction Progress
Located in Humboldt County, near the Oregon border, Thacker Pass has been under active construction since 2024.
As of late 2025, detailed engineering is approximately 70 percent complete, and excavation of the processing-plant area is roughly 90 percent finished, according to project updates.
Major concrete work is ongoing, with steel installation scheduled to continue into 2026.
A dedicated construction workforce hub, including modular housing, utilities, and supporting infrastructure, is nearing completion and will accommodate up to 2,000 workers at peak activity.
Once operational, Phase 1 of Thacker Pass is expected to support about 360 full-time positions.
Scale, Cost, and Funding
The Thacker Pass development is structured in multiple phases. Phase 1 targets annual production of 40,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate, with potential expansion in later phases to as much as 160,000 tons per year.
Phase 1 carries an estimated cost of $2.93 billion, supported by a $2.26 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) program, finalized in 2024.
Private capital from Lithium Americas Corp. (62 percent ownership) and General Motors Co. (38 percent) provides additional project equity and offtake financing under a long-term supply agreement.
The Thacker Pass Lithium Mine is part of a growing list of U.S. lithium projects aimed at strengthening national security; recently, American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) announced it had completed all required federal baseline environmental studies for its Tonopah Flats Lithium Project (TFLP), also in Nevada.
The project will create around 1,800 construction jobs and 360 permanent operations jobs, supporting the Biden administration’s goal of using the clean-energy transition to generate economic opportunity across U.S. industrial regions.
Strategic and Environmental Context
The US$200 million bridge loan for Ivanhoe Electric’s Santa Cruz copper mine underscores growing investor confidence in U.S. critical-mineral projects. Similarly, Thacker Pass contains the largest known lithium resource in the United States and is considered a cornerstone of the federal strategy to strengthen domestic supply chains for electric-vehicle batteries and grid-scale storage. Together, these developments reflect a broader national push toward securing key resources essential for clean-energy and industrial resilience.
The U.S. Department of Energy has described the project as “strategically essential to building a resilient clean-energy materials base.”
The development continues under regulatory oversight by Nevada authorities, which monitor groundwater, reclamation, and wildlife impacts.
Lithium Americas has committed to closed-loop water-recycling systems and progressive land restoration to limit long-term disturbance, while community and tribal organizations maintain active engagement through state-led consultations.
Outlook
With Emerson’s automation systems now being integrated, construction is on pace toward late-2027 mechanical completion.
Once fully operational, Thacker Pass would rank among North America’s largest lithium-producing facilities, reinforcing U.S. efforts to onshore critical-minerals production and accelerate the clean-energy transition.
Project Fact Sheet
Project: Thacker Pass Lithium Mine
Location: Humboldt County, Nevada, United States
Development phase: Phase 1
Project value: $2.93 billion
Ownership: Lithium Americas and General Motors
Lithium America’s ownership: 62%
General Motors ownership: 38%
Production capacity: 40,000 metric tones of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually
Expansion potential: Up to 160,000 metric tones annually
Construction status: Major processing plant construction underway
Engineering progress: More than 95% complete as of June 30, 2026
Procurement progress: More than 80% complete as of June 30, 2026
Site workforce: More than 1,600 personnel as of June 30, 2026
Peak workforce: More than 2,000 workers expected during 2026
Capitalized project costs: $1.8 billion as of June 30, 2026
2026 capital guidance: $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion
DOE funding: $1.209 billion advanced by June 2026
Mechanical completion: Targeted for late 2027
Power milestone: Off-site power modifications completed
Grid energization: Targeted for Q4 2026
Transload terminal: Under construction near Winnemucca
Safety record: 3.42 million workhours without serious injury or lost-time incident
Permanent operations: Approximately 360 positions
Primary product: Battery-grade lithium carbonate
Project Team
Developer: Lithium Americas Corp.
Equity partner: General Motors Co.
Automation provider: Emerson
Regional automation partner: Caltrol
Engineering contractor: Bechtel
Lender: U.S. Department of Energy
Workforce housing provider: Lithium Americas
Transload terminal developer: Lithium Americas
Technical services provider: Emerson
Processing technology partner: Lithium Americas
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