Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Hans Baldau, Associate Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Moving through the permitting process. Century has completed all required environmental baseline studies to begin Angel Island’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process, which is expected to take up to two years before reaching a record of decision. The studies will be used by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to support the company’s upcoming Plan of Operations submission and subsequent NEPA analysis.
FAST-41 designation. In August 2025, Angel Island was formally designated as a FAST-41 Transparency project under a federal initiative designed to improve the transparency, coordination, and timeliness of the federal environmental review and permitting process. The designation reflects Angel Island’s strategic importance in supporting the U.S. critical minerals supply chain. We think the Angel Island project is well-positioned for a timely progression through the permitting process.
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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Shares of Lithium Americas (NYSE: LAC) soared nearly 100% on Wednesday after reports that the Trump administration is considering taking a stake in the company as part of a renegotiated federal loan package tied to the development of the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada.
According to Reuters, the administration is seeking as much as a 10% equity stake in the Vancouver-based miner. The proposed arrangement comes as Lithium Americas works through terms of a $2.26 billion loan from the Department of Energy, originally granted during the first Trump administration.
Under the current negotiations, the company has offered the government no-cost warrants for up to 10% of its common stock. At the same time, the administration is reportedly pressing General Motors (NYSE: GM) — which owns a 38% stake in Thacker Pass and has invested $625 million — for purchase guarantees that would help shore up demand for the lithium produced at the site. GM shares ticked higher by more than 2% on the news.
A Strategic Lithium Project
Thacker Pass is expected to play a central role in U.S. energy security. Once operational, the project is projected to be the largest lithium mining operation in the Western Hemisphere. Its first production phase, slated for 2028, is forecast to produce more than 40,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually — enough to power batteries for roughly 800,000 electric vehicles.
For perspective, Albemarle’s (NYSE: ALB) Silver Peak mine in Nevada, currently the only operating lithium mine in the U.S., produces fewer than 5,000 metric tons per year. This makes Thacker Pass a significant leap in domestic production capacity at a time when global demand for electric vehicles, battery storage, and clean energy technologies is surging.
China currently dominates the global lithium industry, producing more than 40,000 metric tons per year and refining more than 65% of the world’s supply. By comparison, the U.S. refines less than 3%. This imbalance has made lithium one of the most strategically sensitive commodities in the energy transition.
“Lithium is the new oil,” said one energy analyst, noting that securing supply has become a cornerstone of U.S. industrial policy. “Without it, you can’t scale EV adoption or battery storage, and that makes projects like Thacker Pass crucial to long-term energy independence.”
The government’s interest in Lithium Americas follows similar moves to shore up domestic supply chains for other critical materials. In July, MP Materials (NYSE: MP) announced a multibillion-dollar deal with the Department of Defense that made the government its largest shareholder, boosting MP’s stock more than 50%. Meanwhile, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has climbed over 25% since talks of a potential government stake in the chipmaker became public.
This pattern underscores the administration’s strategy of leveraging federal investment to reduce reliance on foreign sources of essential resources, from rare earth elements to semiconductors.
Lithium Americas stock traded at $6.09 as of 2:08 p.m. EDT, up more than 98% on the day. The sharp rally comes despite ongoing weakness in lithium prices, which have fallen over the past year amid oversupply from China. Futures for lithium carbonate are down more than 12%, while lithium hydroxide has dropped more than 4.5%.
Those price pressures have raised concerns about the financial viability of large-scale U.S. mining projects. The administration’s involvement could provide a stabilizing force, ensuring that key projects like Thacker Pass remain on track. The first loan draw is expected this month, with construction at the Nevada site already underway.
For now, investors appear to be betting that federal backing — and a potential government equity stake — could cement Lithium Americas’ role as a cornerstone of America’s clean energy future.
Key Points: – GM partners with Lithium Americas to develop a lithium mining project in Nevada, investing $625 million. – The Thacker Pass project will boost GM’s efforts to secure domestic lithium for EV battery production. – The deal is a key step in GM’s goal of building a resilient, U.S.-based EV supply chain.
General Motors (GM) is making a significant move to strengthen its electric vehicle (EV) supply chain by partnering with Lithium Americas Corp. in a joint venture. This collaboration involves a substantial $625 million investment in the Thacker Pass lithium carbonate mining project, located in Humboldt County, Nevada. Lithium is a critical component for manufacturing the high-capacity batteries needed to power EVs, making this deal a pivotal step in GM’s goal of building a resilient, U.S.-based supply chain.
With EV demand surging and federal regulations tightening on emissions, GM is focusing on ensuring a steady and reliable supply of lithium, a key raw material for EV batteries. This partnership, which includes $330 million in cash at closing, $100 million upon final project decisions, and a $195 million credit facility, is designed to secure GM’s access to lithium for its growing fleet of electric vehicles. GM will hold a 38% interest in the Thacker Pass project, which is expected to create significant job opportunities and contribute to cost savings in battery production.
“We’re pleased with the significant progress Lithium Americas is making to help GM achieve our goal to develop a resilient EV material supply chain,” said Jeff Morrison, GM’s senior vice president of global purchasing and supply chain. Securing lithium and other essential raw materials domestically is critical for managing battery costs, providing value to customers, and meeting investor expectations.
This joint venture builds on GM’s earlier $320 million investment into Lithium Americas in February 2023, further cementing their relationship. As the Thacker Pass project moves forward, it will play a crucial role in GM’s ambitious plan to scale its EV business and produce electric vehicles more profitably, in line with tightening U.S. environmental regulations.
The Wolfspeed project and GM’s lithium venture highlight the importance of fostering a domestic EV supply chain to reduce reliance on foreign resources, ensuring that the U.S. remains competitive in the global EV race. By linking these two developments, the broader picture of the growing U.S. EV infrastructure comes into view, from essential raw materials like lithium to advanced chip technologies, all designed to power the future of transportation.
As GM continues to push its all-electric vision, its investment in Thacker Pass positions the company to meet the increasing demand for EVs, while simultaneously reducing costs and securing a vital component of the battery production process. With both Wolfspeed and GM making significant strides, the U.S. EV industry is poised for substantial growth in the coming years.
