Supplier Ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Esmeralda County, Nevada has entered into the final stage of permitting, following the publication of a notice of intent (NOI) in the federal register by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The project is expected to produce enough lithium to allow for the manufacture of around 400,000 electric vehicles annually.
"We understand the Rhyolite Ridge Project is the first lithium project to be issued a Notice of Intent under the Biden administration, and we see this as a significant step toward ensuring a strong domestic supply of critical minerals and strategic materials necessary for development of a domestic battery supply chain essential to the electrification of transportation in the U.S.,” Ioneer's Executive Chairman James Calaway said.
The company says it can now focus on completing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and seeking approval for the project's plan of operations. It started working on the plan, which is the foundational permitting document for the project, nearly four years ago.
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The plan will also serve as the basis for compliance during operations and closure. Ioneer said it will update the plan to reflect the outcomes of the NEPA review before it is finalised for the BLM's Record of Decision (ROD), which marks the Department of Interior's final decision on Ioneer's application for an approved plan of operations.
Ioneer expects to receive the approval to begin construction by the first quarter of 2024. The firm also plans to undertake further drilling activity at the southern extension of the ore body. The project is expected to come online in 2026.
Lithium is a key component in the current chemistry of utility-scale battery storage technologies. Ambitious e-mobility and energy storage goals in the U.S. are producing for opening more domestic sourcing for the element, since the nation currently has only one operating lithium mine, in Nevada.
“In delivering this world-class project, Ioneer will help the U.S. create a domestic supply of lithium for auto manufacturers, quadrupling the current domestic supply, critical to meeting the climate goals established by the Biden administration, while also positively impacting the Nevada economy by creating 400-500 construction jobs and 250-300 operating jobs to help diversify the Nevada economy,” Ioneer Managing Director Bernard Rowe said.
The company secured a state-based air quality permit and a state-based water pollution permit for the Rhyolite Ridge project in 2021. Ioneer chose Veolia Water Technologies for engineering and equipment supply to the planned dewatering facility at the Rhyolite project
