Overcoming the lithium crunch - Lithium America's Jonathan Evans on what tech could matter

Lithium can travel a very long path from the mine to finished product, noted Lithium Americas CEO Jonathan Evans, and he is weighing how to shorten it. In February Evans was interviewed by mining audiences manager Michael McCrae at the BMO Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference. Evans was asked about how the company was setting up its supply chains and why co-location is important, matching mining with processing. "Look at life cycle analysis," said Evans. "If you look at the path today where lithium travels from either South America or Australia to China...it's a very long path." Evans said that long supply chains are exposed to geopolitical disruption. Carbon emissions also go up. "I think manufacturers want to have control—more oversight, especially in trusted jurisdictions." Lithium Americas is focused on advancing the Cauchari-Olaroz and Pastos Grandes projects in Argentina and the Thacker Pass project in Nevada, USA towards production. In March Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC) announced the commencement of construction at its 100%-owned Thacker Pass lithium project in Humboldt County, Nevada, following the receipt of notice to proceed from the Bureau of Land Management. In a press release, the company said that Thacker Pass is targeting 80,000 tonnes per annum of battery-quality lithium carbonate production capacity in two phases of 40,000 tonnes per annum, respectively. In January General Motors announced that it would make a $650 million equity investment in Lithium Americas to help advance Thacker Pass. During the interview, Evans was asked what technology he is keeping an eye on that could make a difference in the sector. He identified process flow sheets that could lower water use. He also is keeping an eye on direct lithium extraction technology. Coverage of BMO Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference was sponsored by First Majestic Silver. FOLLOW KITCO MINING Twitter: @paulharrisgold (  / paulharrisgold  ) Twitter: @michaelmccrae (  / michaelmccrae  ) Twitter: @KitcoMining (  / kitcomining  ) Instagram:   / kitcomining   LinkedIn:   / kitcomining   Facebook:   / kitcomining   0:40 - Status of Thacker Pass and legal ruling. 1:50 - Large projects in the U.S. are usually challenged legally? 3:10 - Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on the critical metals sector. 4:15 - Is there enough support for upstream through IRA? 5:20 - Why supply chains matter for lithium processing. 6:10 - Advantage to working in Nevada if you are a critical metals miner. 8:00 - New technology that will make lithium processing cheaper and more productive.