@ Pavel  Don't believe me, just read the actual letter that LAC sent to the State of Nevada on 8/7/20.  I highlighted and underlined the key sections below.

• We are collocating our manufacturing facilities with the mine at Thacker Pass to benefit from greater efficiency and control of the supply chain. In doing so, the Thacker Pass complex has the potential to make Nevada a global leader in the lithium-ion battery processing business by fulfilling two of the four key steps in advanced battery manufacturing.
• Today, the four primary steps to making lithium-ion batteries are:
  • 1. Mine the lithium mineral. Of the current lithium mining, 98% is done in South America, Australia and China. Only about 1-2% of the world production is sourced from deposits in North America at Silver Peak, Nevada. If the Thacker Pass mine was in full operation today, it could fulfill approximately 25% of lithium demand.
  • 2. Manufacture the specialty lithium chemicals, mainly lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. In the past few years, the minerals from hard rock lithium deposits in Australia have been shipped either in an ore or in a concentrate to China for further processing into lithium carbonate or hydroxide. The minerals from liquid brine deposits were processed at project sites in South America and shipped in processed form to producers of cathodes in Asia.
  • 3. Manufacture the cathodes. Cathode production is often done in China, Japan and South Korea.
  • 4. Manufacture the final batteries for specific application, like at the Tesla/Panasonic Gigafactory. This step is done in various places like Asia and at the Gigafactory in northern Nevada or SK Innovations new investment in Georgia.
• Thacker Pass will streamline this convoluted supply chain by combining the first two steps. Most of our operating expenses will be devoted to manufacturing the two most commonly used chemicals by lithium-ion battery makers: lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. We will also be able to retool our plant to meet anticipated demand for specialty lithium chemicals for such things as solid state lithium batteries. We are not seeking state help for the Thacker Pass mining operation, only for the chemical operation.
• During Phase 1, Thacker Pass will make 30,000 tons per year of lithium carbonate equivalent. Most of this supply is expected to the exported to cathode producers in Asia and elsewhere in the world. 
• With the state’s assistance, we can move quickly to build and operate this facility, which will help Nevada be home to a vertically integrated supply chain for specialty lithium-ion batteries

How does Nevada become home to a vertically integrated supply chain for Li batteries when most of the TP Li supply is expected to be exported to Asia?  I assume step 1 & 2 happen @ LAC, step 3 happens in Asia (Phase 1 as least in order to leverage the current cathode infastrucure already in place) and step 4 happens back in Nevada at a new or current Ganfeng, LG, CATL, VW, Tesla/Panasonic or SK battery facility that exists or will be built in Nevada?  Once C-O revenue starts to hit our balance sheet in 2022, LAC can parther with a US based cathode producer (QS, Solid Power, Nano One, etc.) to make Nevada and the United States the first 100% vertically integrated Li battery producer.  Go Lac!!

WB