The Biden administration has approved the first domestic lithium mining project in the United States, marking a significant step towards reducing the country’s dependence on China for this critical mineral. Lithium is essential for producing EV batteries and other technologies tied to renewable energy.
According to a report by Voice of America on Thursday, the US Department of the Interior has decided to approve the development of a lithium mine in Nevada by Ioneer, an Australian lithium mining company. Acting Deputy Interior Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis emphasized the importance of this project, saying, “This is a science-based decision.” “We’re trying to send a signal that there’s no topic with greater importance than addressing climate change,” she added.
The Bureau of Land Management, which operates under the Department of the Interior, highlighted that the project will include strong environmental protections and create hundreds of jobs in rural areas. The Nevada mine is estimated to contain enough lithium to power 370,000 EVs annually. Operations are scheduled to start next year, with full-scale lithium production expected to begin in 2028.
Major automakers like Ford and Toyota have already committed to purchasing lithium from this mine. This strategy is interpreted as an effort to diminish dependence on China, the current global leader in lithium production.
James Calaway, Ioneer’s chairman, expressed pride in the project, stating, “We’re proud to be the first US lithium mine permitted by the Biden administration.”
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