U.S. Seeks Small Stake in Lithium Americas

The Trump administration is seeking a small equity stake—likely under 10%, possibly via 5–10% warrants—in Lithium Americas as it renegotiates the roughly $2.26–2.3 billion Department of Energy loan for the Thacker Pass project in Nevada. Officials say the move is meant to protect taxpayers while supporting a domestic lithium supply chain, and that any stake would require agreement from joint‑venture partner General Motors and potentially Canadian regulatory approval; no deal is finalized. Administration officials are seeking equity in part to allow portions of loan repayment to be pushed into later years to create a cash buffer and reduce taxpayer risk. Thacker Pass, backed by GM with roughly a 38% stake and offtake, is expected to produce about 40,000 metric tons of battery‑grade lithium carbonate per year when fully operational and is touted as the Western Hemisphere’s largest new lithium source. The announcement sent Lithium Americas shares sharply higher—up roughly 68–80% in premarket/after‑market trading—and lifted other lithium miners and ETFs, and negotiations remain ongoing.