Lithium Americas Corp. · NYSE:LAC
Lithium Americas — Technical Presentation (June 2023)
51 slides from Lithium Americas's technical presentation, June 2023
Slide 1: Thacker Pass Site Visit June 2023
LithiumAmericas* Thacker Pass Site Vis June 2023
Slide 2: Cautionary Statement
Cautionary Statement ADDITIONAL REFERENCE MATERIALS NI 43-101 DISCLOSURE This presentation should be read in conjunction with Lithium Americas Corp.’s (“Lithium Americas”, “LAC” or Scientific and technical information in this presentation about the Thacker Pass Project has been reviewed and the “Com
Slide 3: Thacker Pass location in Humboldt County, Nevada
Thacker Pass is located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada on public lands administered by the US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 3
Slide 4: Thacker Pass Project Location
Thacker Pass Project Location Thacker Pass is in the extinct 25x19 mile McDermitt Caldera supervolcano, ~60 miles N-NW of Winnemucca and ~20 miles W- NW of Orovada. 4
Slide 5: Thacker Pass Project Location
Thacker Pass Project Location McDermitt Caldera Thacker Pass Thacker Pass is adjacent to paved highway, access to transmission line and nearby rail (~60 miles). 5
Slide 6: Community Engagement and Community Relations
Community Engagement and Community Relations 6
Slide 7: Actively Engaging with Local Tribal and Community Members
Actively Engaging with Local Tribal and Community Members Community Benefits Agreement with the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe • Closest Native American tribe to Thacker Pass • Funding of community center and greenhouse • Skills training and jobs Direct Benefit to Local Community • Formal
Slide 8: Community Benefits Agreement adopted to foster a long-term constructive relationship
Community Benefits Agreement adopted to foster a long-term constructive relationship Through years of engagement, information sharing and meetings with tribal leaders, council and members, we have learned about needs and priorities, which include: Quality Preschool and Community Facilities • The dev
Slide 9: Cultural Work at Thacker Pass during Spring 2022
The Cultural Work at Thacker Pass during Spring 2022 was conducted using monitors and technicians from the Fort McDermitt Tribe Cultural monitor training facilitated by Lithium Americas allowed for eleven tribe members to actively participate in critical archeological work Good paying jobs with
Slide 10: Orovada Elementary School
Orovada Elementary School Lithium Americas worked with the community of Orovada, the Humboldt County School district and the Bureau of Land Management to design and locate a new K-8 school in Orovada, a small community 10 kilometers east of the Thacker Pass site Progress • BLM permitting process com
Slide 11: Road improvements at SR293 and US95
Road improvements at SR293 and US95 Approximately 100 trucks will be going to and from site daily* LAC worked with Nevada Department of Transportation to improve a busy intersection in Orovada Construction started this spring 11 Photo of progress – June 2023 *See the Company’s NI 43-101 techni
Slide 12: Key Permits Achieved for Construction and Operations
Key Permits Achieved for Construction and Operations Over 10 years of collecting environmental, land and cultural data to support the EIS and permitting process EIS Record of Class II Air Quality Water Pollution Water Rights Transfer Decision and Plan of Operating Permit Control Permit Approved Oper
Slide 13: McDermitt Caldera Geology Overview
McDermitt Caldera Geology Overview 13
Slide 14: McDermitt Caldera geology
Camp and Tolan (2020), GSA Today 14 See the Company’s NI 43-101 technical report dated effective November 2, 2022, “Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA” for full details.
Slide 15: McDermitt Caldera Lake Sediments
Castor and Henry (2020), Minerals McDermitt Caldera Lake Sediments Closed lacustrine basin within caldera accumulated lithium-rich smectite sediments Simplified cartoon cross section of a caldera lake and how lithium accumulates in lake water Li-rich smectite is present in caldera lake sediments thr
Slide 16: Hydrothermal Enrichment During Caldera Resurgence
Hydrothermal Enrichment During Caldera Resurgence Post-caldera hydrothermal fluids in the vicinity of Thacker Pass altered some of the smectite to illite, increasing the concentration of Li in the illitic zones Benson et al. (in press), Science Advances Benson et al. (in press), Science Advances Lit
Slide 17: Caldera Setting as Key Differentiator
Caldera Setting as Key Differentiator High Li inventory in caldera due to: (1) voluminous Li-rich intracaldera rock underlying the sediments; and (2) resurgence-related hydrothermal activity forming Li-illite 17 See the Company’s NI 43-101 technical report dated effective November 2, 2022, “Feasibil
Slide 18: Drilling and Resource Definition
Drilling and Resource Definition 18
Slide 19: Drilling and resource definition
See the Company’s NI 43-101 technical report dated effective November 2, 2022, “Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA” for full details. 19
Slide 20: The largest known Measured and Indicated lithium resource in the U.S.
Mineral Reserve Estimate Mineral Resource Estimate As of November 2, 2022 As of November 2, 2022 Lithium Lithium Average Average Tonnage Carbonate Tonnage Carbonate Category Li Category Li (Mt) Equivalent (Mt) Equivalent (ppm) (ppm) (Mt) (Mt) Proven 192.9 3,180 3.3 Measured 534.7 2,450 7.0 Probable
Slide 21: Environment and Process Plant Facilities
Environment and Process Plant Facilities 21 21 3D Rendering of Site Layout
Slide 22: Respecting Our Environment
Respecting Our Environment Low Carbon Footprint Low Water Consumption Minimizing Environmental Impact with active reclamation to minimize environmental impact (1) Based on third-party analysis from a leading international engineering firm. When including processing. 22 (2) Refer to the Company’s NI
Slide 23: Process plant facilities
23 See the Company’s NI 43-101 technical report dated effective November 2, 2022, “Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA” for full details.
Slide 24: Thacker Pass – 3D Rendering of Processing Plant (Phase 1)
Thacker Pass – 3D Rendering of Processing Plant (Phase 1) Lithium Carbonate Plant Sulfuric Acid Plant Counter Current Decantation (CCD) Neutralization & Filtration Magnesium Sulfate Rendering for illustrative purposes only. 24 24 See the Company’s NI 43-101 technical report dated effective November
Slide 25: Mining
Mining 25
Slide 26: Highlights
HIGHLIGHTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. See the Company’s NI 43-101 technical report dated effective November 2, 26 2022, “Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA” for full details.
Slide 27: Pit shape and mine waste advance figures
The figures show the pit shape after various years of mining and do not show concurrent backfill that will begin early in the mine life. In the first five years, the mine waste will primarily be hauled to the out-of-pit waste storage area (West Waste Rock Storage Facility). After 5 years, the mine w
Slide 28: Planned for Closure Before Starting at Thacker Pass
Planned for Closure Before Starting at Thacker Pass Year 5 18,600 acres surveyed 10 years to collect environmental, land and cultural data for baseline environmental surveys Relocated to protect Year 25 Operations located south of the Montana Mountains to avoid disturbing sensitive ecological areas
Slide 29: North American Coal Reclamation Projects
North American Coal Reclamation Projects Mississippi Lignite Mining Company’s Red Hills Mine Coteau Properties Company’s Freedom Mine, North Dakota Bisti Fuels Company’s Navajo Mine, New Mexico 29
Slide 30: Construction and EPCM
Construction and EPCM 30
Slide 31: Thacker Pass Construction Timeline and Capital Costs
Thacker Pass Construction Timeline and Capital Costs Building estimated lithium capacity to supply over 40 million Electric Vehicles 2007-2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Defined resource – largest known in the Phase 1 U.S. Phase 1 Construction(1) First Production 40,000 tpa Baseline
Slide 32: Project leadership experience
– 20+ years of experience – 20+ years of experience in finance and corp – 25 years of developing and executing – Trusted industry-leading firm that has built dev in the energy industry industrial and mining projects more than 25,000 projects for industries – Previously ran FMC’s lithium operation an
Slide 33: Partnered with Bechtel to Build Safely and Sustainably
Partnered with Bechtel to Build Safely and Sustainably All company names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective third-party holders.
Slide 34: Experienced project team including Bechtel
Experienced project team including Bechtel, a world class EPCM company Years of Name Title Experience Brief Experience Richard Gerspacher Global Head Projects 25+ Owner / Contractor – Mega project specialist: South America / Australia / Africa Nasser Fahmy Senior Project Director 35+ Owner – Maratho
Slide 35: Processing and Technical Development Center
Processing and Technical Development Center 35
Slide 36: Process flow overview
Dashed lines represent adjacent industries 36 See the Company’s NI 43-101 technical report dated effective November 2, 2022, “Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA” for full details.
Slide 37: Attrition scrubbing of ore
The process starts by feeding ore and water to attrition scrubbing. The lithium bearing clay particles disperse easily with minimal energy input and no crushing and no grinding. Attrition scrubbing (a form of high intensity slurry mixing) is an effective technique to liberate lithium bearing clay fr
Slide 38: Classification and thickening
Non-lithium bearing material is easily removed from the ore by classification (size separation). The resulting clay slurry is then fed to a thickener so that the water can be recycled back into the process. Any water used in the production process at Thacker Pass is estimated to be recycled and reus
Slide 39: Sulfuric acid plant
Sulfuric acid is produced onsite from liquid sulfur using the conventional Contact Process. One unit of liquid sulfur produces three units of sulfuric acid, thereby reducing the impact of transportation and associated carbon emissions. Heat from the sulfuric acid process is captured as steam and is
Slide 40: Sulfuric acid leaching and neutralization
Our sulfuric acid leaching and neutralization process is designed to achieve high lithium recoveries and neutral tailings to minimize hazards during long- term tailings storage. Lithium contained in clay rich leach feed is extracted with sulfuric acid in agitated leach tanks. LAC has performed exten
Slide 41: Countercurrent Decantation
Countercurrent Decantation (CCD) is a classical metallurgical technique for washing valuable dissolved substances away from solids. It is particularly effective and reliable for fine particles, such as those found at Thacker Pass. Each stage of CCD mixes lithium bearing slurry with a successively mo
Slide 42: Filter presses for tailings
Filter presses are used to separate solids from washed CCD slurry. The resulting filter cake is dry and amenable to stacking in the lined storage facility and the filtrate (water) is recycled. Test scale tailings dewatering Rendering for illustrative purposes only. 42 See the Company’s NI 43-101 tec
Slide 43: Magnesium removal
Magnesium is an impurity in battery-quality lithium carbonate and removed from the extracted lithium in a multi-step process. 1. The brine is concentrated with a pre-evaporator and then passed through a series of crystallizers that produce common Epsom Salts and purified water for recycling. 2. Any
Slide 44: Battery-quality lithium carbonate production
Battery-quality lithium carbonate will be produced by a three-stage process. 1. Concentrated brine is purified with ion exchange and mixed with a soda ash solution to precipitate lithium carbonate and form crystals. 2. The crystals are purified to battery-quality by converting to soluble lithium bic
Slide 45: Zero Liquid Discharge Crystallizer
At the end of the process, all water is recovered by a large evaporator in the Zero Liquid Discharge Crystallizer. This step means Thacker Pass does not discharge any process water to the environment and has extremely pure water that can be recycled. At this step, sodium and potassium sulfate impuri
Slide 46: Project Economics
PROJECT ECONOMICS 46
Slide 47: Thacker Pass Feasibility Study Highlights
Thacker Pass Feasibility Study Highlights Feasibility Study supports Thacker Pass as largest new source of lithium in the U.S. 80 ktpa LCE 40 years $2.3 billion $1.1 billion Phase 1 and 2 Life of Mine Phase 1 capital cost Average annual EBITDA(1) Total Production Capacity 40 ktpa LCE $6,743 / tonne
Slide 48: Thacker Pass Expected Operating Costs
Thacker Pass Expected Operating Costs Total Operating Costs(1)(2) Lithium Process Plant Breakdown(3) Lithium Process Plant Fuel (non-mining) 46% 1% $6,743 per Net Power Mine Imported Raw Materials 15% tonne lithium (including 11% carbonate Logistics) $3,088 per G&A 63% tonne lithium carbonate Mainte
Slide 49: Lithium carbonate production and ore processed over mine life
Phase 1 and Phase 2 total design capacity of 80,000 tpa 40-year Mine Life(1)(2) Avg. annual production ~67 ktpa Li2Co3 25,000 120,000 Years 1-25 (1)(2) Avg. annual production ~70 ktpa Li2Co3 100,000 20,000 Ore Mined and Processed (1000s tonnes) Li2CO3 Produced (tonnes) 80,000 15,000 60,000 10,000 40
Slide 50: Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimers
Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimers FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION This presentation contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities FLI involves known and unknown risks, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results or leg
Slide 51: Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimers
Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimers The Company’s actual results, programs and financial position could differ materially from those anticipated in Lithium Americas expressly disclaims any obligation to update FLI as a result of new information, such FLI as a result of numerous factors, risks
Lithium Americas — Technical Presentation (June 2023) on 6ix