Lithium Americas (LAC) Corporate presentation summary
Event summary combining transcript, slides, and related documents.
Corporate presentation summary
19 Mar, 2026Project overview and strategy
Thacker Pass Phase 1 is in major construction, targeting mechanical completion in late 2027 and ramp-up to commercial production in 2028, with a nominal capacity of 40,000 tonnes/year of battery-grade lithium carbonate.
The project is the largest measured lithium resource and reserve in the U.S., with expansion potential up to five phases totaling 160,000 tonnes/year and an estimated 85-year mine life.
Phase 1 increases U.S. lithium capacity sevenfold, strengthening domestic energy security.
The project is a joint venture: 62% owned by the company and 38% by General Motors, with a 20-year offtake agreement for up to 100% of Phase 1 and 38% of Phase 2 production.
Construction is fully funded through a $2.23 billion U.S. DOE loan, $945 million from GM, and $250 million from Orion Resource Partners.
Construction progress and milestones
Detailed engineering is 93% complete, with long-lead equipment enroute and peak construction expected in H2 2026/H1 2027.
As of late January 2026, 950 personnel were on site, with 2 million workhours completed without a lost-time incident.
Major construction milestones for 2026 include delivery of equipment, completion of main concrete work, and early commissioning of individual plants.
The Workforce Hub, a full-service housing facility for up to 2,000 workers, is operational to minimize local housing impact.
The project is expected to create approximately 2,000 construction jobs and 350 permanent operational jobs.
Financials and cost structure
Total Phase 1 capex is estimated at $2.93 billion, with $862.6 million spent by end of 2025 and $1.2–$1.5 billion planned for 2026.
The DOE loan is at the U.S. Treasury rate with a 0% spread and a 23-year tenor, improving financial flexibility with deferred debt service.
Thacker Pass is positioned as a low-cost producer, with C1 OPEX of $6,238/t LCE and AISC OPEX of $7,508/t for Years 1–25, remaining profitable even during lithium price downturns.
The project benefits from a competitive cost structure due to high-grade ore, efficient processing, and location advantages.
Latest events from Lithium Americas
- $2.26B DOE loan, $625M GM JV, and $250M Orion investment drive Thacker Pass progress.LAC
Q3 202419 Mar 2026 - Thacker Pass fully funded for 2H24 construction start; cash up, net loss in H1 2024.LAC
Q2 202419 Mar 2026 - Construction advances with strong financing and cash, targeting late 2027 completion.LAC
Q2 202519 Mar 2026 - Fully funded for Thacker Pass Phase 1, with $446.9M cash and major construction milestones achieved.LAC
Q1 202519 Mar 2026 - Thacker Pass construction accelerates with major funding and higher net loss in Q3 2025.LAC
Q3 202519 Mar 2026 - Strong progress at Thacker Pass with robust financing and construction on track for 2027 completion.LAC
Q4 202519 Mar 2026 - Thacker Pass, the largest U.S. lithium project, is fully funded and on track for 2027 completion.LAC
Gabelli Funds' 16th Annual Specialty Chemicals Symposium2 Dec 2025 - Thacker Pass advances as the largest U.S. lithium project, fully funded and under major construction.LAC
Corporate Presentation14 Sep 2025 - Thacker Pass targets 40,000 t/y lithium carbonate by 2027, with full funding and major permits secured.LAC
June 2025 Thacker Pass Site Tour Presentation14 Sep 2025