Fastmarkets Lithium Panel: Nevada Supply Chain, Thacker Pass, Rhyolite Ridge & Recycling

Dec 30, 2025

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In this panel discussion, I (Howard Klein) moderate a conversation on how Nevada is positioning itself as a leading U.S. hub for domestic lithium supply—linking mining, refining, battery production, and recycling into a more integrated “closed-loop” ecosystem.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction
(01:20) Nevada's Closed-Loop Supply Chain
(04:07) Panelist Introductions
(06:57) Lithium Market Cycles
(13:27) Rhyolite Ridge Advantage
(18:29) Recycling And Mining Strategy
(23:09) Nevada Support And Permitting
(25:58) Federal Policy And Critical Minerals
(32:01) China And EV Outlook
(36:05) Why Few New EV Makers
(38:57) Defense Support And Stockpiles
(42:57) Wrap-Up

Joining me are:

- Melanie Sheldon (Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development) on why Nevada is uniquely active across the full lithium value chain, and how the state supports projects through workforce development, incentives, and a mature permitting environment.

- John Evans (Lithium Americas) on Thacker Pass—construction status, the GM joint venture, financing realities, and what it takes to build large-scale lithium projects through commodity cycles.

- James Calaway (Ioneer) on Rhyolite Ridge—project readiness, the role of DOE financing, and how co-producing boric acid can materially improve the project’s cost position.

- Ryan Melsert (American Battery Technology Company) on pairing battery recycling with primary lithium production—why both are needed, how recycling can support earlier cash flow, and the pathway from demonstration to commercial scale.

We also cover the broader market and policy context: lithium’s boom-bust dynamics, the scale of North American battery buildout versus available domestic supply, and how U.S. industrial policy is evolving across administrations—especially around permitting, DOE programs, and the competitive landscape with China.

Topics include: Nevada lithium, Thacker Pass, Rhyolite Ridge, lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, battery recycling, critical minerals policy, DOE Loan Programs Office, EV supply chain, U.S. battery manufacturing, and China competition.

#Lithium #Nevada #CriticalMinerals #BatteryRecycling #EVSupplyChain #ThackerPass #RhyoliteRidge #LithiumAmericas #Ioneer #ABTC