The United States Department of Defense has listed lithium as a critical mineral, because of U.S.
overdependence on foreign countries for supply, and its importance to American security and economic
prosperity. Production from Thacker Pass is anticipated to support lithium needs for up to 800,000 electric vehicles annually
and will significantly reduce the country's dependency on foreign suppliers.
America has an opportunity to fight climate change consistent with President Biden's goal of achieving
net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by no later than 2050, by creating a domestic lithium supply chain
that would reduce the country's overall GHG pollution.
The manufacturing of batteries has a global footprint. Currently most of the world's lithium is mined in
Australia or South America and only 1% is mined in the U.S. Lithium concentrate is then shipped mostly to
China, to be processed into battery chemicals. These lithium chemicals are then often shipped to other parts
of Asia, the U.S. or Europe to make into cathodes and install in battery packs. The batteries are then often
shipped to another location for installation into their final product, such as electric vehicles. This
current global supply chain uses a lot of energy.
Thacker Pass could enable a U.S. domestic supply chain that would allow domestic car manufacturers to produce
electric vehicles from battery materials completely sourced and manufactured in the U.S., bringing down the
overall carbon footprint, transport costs and supply chain risks.