American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) has achieved a significant milestone in the U.S. clean energy landscape by securing a $57 million contract award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This multi-year contract is poised to accelerate the development of ABTC’s state-of-the-art lithium hydroxide manufacturing facility located in Tonopah, Nevada.
The contract award signals a pivotal moment in the commercialization of ABTC’s Tonopah Flats Lithium Project, designed to provide substantial quantities of low-cost, environmentally sustainable, and domestically sourced critical mineral lithium hydroxide, essential for driving the United States’ clean energy transition.
According to a recent third-party audited SK-1300-compliant Inferred Resource Report, the Tonopah Flats Lithium Project stands as one of the largest known lithium resources in the United States. It boasts an estimated reserve of approximately 15.8 million tons of economically accessible lithium on a carbonate equivalent basis, reinforcing its strategic significance in supporting the nation’s clean energy initiatives.
The Tonopah project is a collaborative endeavor involving world-class partners, including DuPont Water Solutions, the University of Nevada, Reno, and Argonne National Laboratory. These partners are actively contributing to the commercialization of this cutting-edge facility, which promises to manufacture critical battery minerals that are not only cost-effective but also have a minimal environmental footprint.
ABTC has already taken steps to engage the expertise of Black & Veatch, one of the world’s leading global construction firms, for the engineering, procurement, and construction of the commercial-scale lithium hydroxide refinery. This facility will leverage ABTC’s proprietary, pioneering processing techniques, setting it apart as a first-of-its-kind development in the industry.
The competitive federal grant that has enabled this remarkable venture was established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This legislative milestone included the Battery Material Processing and Component Manufacturing Act, which was championed by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto of Nevada. It reflects the nation’s commitment to advancing sustainable, homegrown solutions for the battery materials and clean energy sectors.
ABTC’s successful receipt of this DOE contract underscores the company’s dedication to powering the clean energy revolution while bolstering the United States’ position as a global leader in critical mineral production and sustainability. This initiative is poised to play a pivotal role in accelerating the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.