Construction of major US lithium production site could power up by 2025

Ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project would sit on what is the only known lithium-boron deposit in North America.

The company said that it has now received a federal permit from the Bureau of Land Management for the project, which could supply batteries for more than 370,000 electric vehicles a year.

The project is expected to generate 500 construction jobs and in 2023, the US Department of Energy Loan Programs Office made a conditional commitment for up to $700 million in debt financing for it.

Ioneer listed a series of changes it has made to the scheme to get it though the permitting process, after opposition from conservation groups. Those included a major modification to the western wall of the quarry to avoid an endangered species of wildflower, Tiehm’s buckwheat.

It has also committed to relocate all infrastructure to areas outside of critical habitat idenfitied as supporting pollinators of Tiehm’s buckwheat.

Meanwhile, it has promised to relocate overburden storage facilities to avoid culturally sensitive sites, as well as committing to water conservation and dust, light and noise monitoring.

However, the project faces further potential legal hurdles, with the Center for Biological Diversity sending the federal government a 60-day notice of intent to sue under the Endangered Species Act following the announcement of the federal decision.

Ioneer said it would issue updated estimated project costs by December this year, ahead of a final investment decision with its financing partners.

The construction period is expected to last 36 months.