November 16, 2025: Swiss group ABB has been contracted by Lithium Americas to support production of around 40,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually in the US.

ABB said on November 4 it will provide a range of electrification technologies, including switchgear and power management systems for the Thacker Pass in Nevada — North America’s largest known measured lithium resource with a total nominal design capacity of 160,000 tonnes annually over five phases.

The group will work on the project alongside Lithium Americas and their engineering, procurement and construction management firm, Bechtel, in a move that will generate material to support the manufacture of around 800,000 EV batteries annually.

The partners said the project will strengthen the US domestic lithium supply chain and ensure the mine and processing facilities operate with high efficiency, safety and sustainability.

“Thacker Pass is a blueprint for the future of mining — electrically and digitally optimized,” said Björn Jonsson, global business line manager for mining and materials at ABB Process Industries.

The US is encouraging a wave of critical minerals projects, following Donald Trump’s executive order, published on April 15, in which the president instructed his administration to analyze critical mineral supply chains and propose ways to ramp up domestic production while reducing reliance on imports.

Plans to construct another US lithium extraction facility, the South West Arkansas Project, were designated as a federal priority in April to help expand domestic battery material production.

Lead battery industry leaders in the US have also backed a national ‘roadmap’ to support scientific progress and technological innovation to boost self-reliance across industrial sectors, including battery production.