ABB says it has been selected by Lithium Americas Corp as the electrification partner for its Thacker Pass project in Nevada, USA.
The project, home to the largest known measured and indicated lithium resource and proven and probable reserve in North America, according to Lithium Americas, is expected to produce up to 40,000 t/y of lithium carbonate once operational. This is projected to support the manufacture of batteries for approximately 800,000 electric vehicles per year.
ABB’s involvement in the project will help ensure the mine and processing facilities operate with high efficiency, safety and sustainability from the start, it says.
Working alongside Lithium Americas and its engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) company Bechtel, ABB will be responsible for providing a suite of latest-generation electrification technologies, including switchgear, motor control centres, variable speed drives, auxiliary power distribution packages and site-wide power management system, all integrated within optimised electrical buildings ready for field deployment. These solutions are engineered for durability and performance in remote, demanding environments and are fully integrated with ABB’s digital platforms to optimise energy use, asset health and operational productivity, it says.
Richard Gerspacher, EVP Capital Projects, Lithium Americas, said: “This collaboration with ABB marks an important milestone in our journey to safely and responsibly produce lithium from Thacker Pass. ABB’s technology and expertise will support our efforts to deliver lithium for the US market, creating economic benefits for American workers, companies and communities.”
Björn Jonsson, Global Business Line Manager for Mining & Materials at ABB Process Industries, said: “Thacker Pass is a blueprint for the future of mining – electrically and digitally optimised. We’re proud to support Lithium Americas in building a resilient lithium supply chain for energy independence.”
ABB’s scope includes full project management and engineered solutions across the lifecycle, from concept to deployment readiness, with specialised electrical power distribution and digital power management system housed in modular electrical buildings. These compact, robust systems integrate ABB’s low and medium voltage technologies and digital power management technologies to enhance safety, reliability and uptime, ABB says.
The project aligns with ABB’s global eMine™ approach and portfolio, which supports the transition to all-electric mines through integrated electrification, automation and digital systems.
