WEG has signed an agreement to supply electric motors to the Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass lithium project under construction in the United States, expanding WEG’s footprint in mining and advancing its role in the global critical minerals value chain.

The contract covers the supply of low- and medium-voltage motors for a new greenfield plant dedicated to lithium processing, a key input for batteries and energy security.

Thacker Pass, located in northern Nevada, is the world’s largest known measured lithium deposit, positioning it as a strategic asset for building domestic lithium capacity.

With an estimated Phase One nominal production capacity of 40,000 t/y of battery-grade lithium carbonate, the project is viewed as a cornerstone for creating a US domestic lithium battery supply chain. The project is backed by a US$2.23 billion loan from the US Department of Energy and is expected to create approximately 2,000 construction jobs.

“This large-scale project underscores WEG’s role as a provider of essential technological solutions to strengthen the critical minerals value chain and enhance energy security. We are committed to expanding investments that contribute to economic development, energy infrastructure resilience, and the integration of strategic supply chains, including those linked to critical minerals,” said Peter Barry, President of WEG USA.

The project includes a supply of approximately 600 motors for the entire plant. The scope covers low-voltage and medium-voltage motors specifically designed for the demands of mining applications, supporting a wide range of equipment such as compressors, fans, pumps, crushers, agitators, separators, and decanter centrifuges.

With a fully WEG-supplied installed base, the plant benefits from greater standardisation, streamlined operations, and efficiency gains in training, maintenance, asset management, and spare parts management. The solutions are designed to operate in demanding industrial environments, combining robustness, energy efficiency, and flexibility for future expansions, key requirements for large-scale mining operations.