Dec 23 (Reuters) - Lithium Americas ( LAC ) said on

Monday it has closed its joint venture with U.S. automaker

General Motors ( GM ) to develop the Thacker Pass lithium mine

in Nevada.

The miner's CEO, Jonathan Evans said that the company is

expected to make a final investment decision on the project in

early 2025.

Under the JV agreement, first announced in October, GM would

contribute $625 million to the project to gain a 38% stake in

Thacker Pass in the form of cash and a credit facility.

The deal's closing provides another boost for the giant

lithium mine, months after the U.S. finalized a $2.26 billion

loan for the Nevada project.

Though the loan was granted under the Biden Administration,

the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had approved the mine

during his previous term.

Thacker Pass, slated to open later this decade, is expected

to produce 40,000 metric tons of battery-quality lithium

carbonate per year in its first phase, enough for up to 800,000

electric vehicles.