Feb 19 (Reuters) - Lithium Americas ( LAC ) said on Thursday capital expenditures for

Phase 1 of its Thacker Pass lithium project ​will range between $1.3 billion and $1.6 ‌billion in

2026, as the Canadian miner accelerates construction ⁠at the Nevada site toward a late-2027

completion ⁠target.

The Nevada-based project is a ‌joint venture ‌between Lithium Americas ( LAC ) and U.S. automaker

General Motors ( GM ) and ​holds enough lithium to ‌build 1 million electric vehicles annually.

The company estimated Phase 1 construction ​costs between $1.2 billion ​and $1.5 ‌billion,

along with other capitalized development costs of $30 million to $40 million.

Lithium Americas ( LAC ) said the ⁠construction estimate includes projected tariff exposure ⁠for

equipment and construction materials sourced from Canada, China, India, the United Arab

Emirates, Turkey and the European Union.

The capex outlook ⁠also ‌includes capitalized interest on a ‌U.S. Department of Energy loan of

$45 ⁠million to $55 million.

Lithium Americas ( LAC ) previously secured $2.23 billion in financing from the DOE's loan

programme, supplemented by strategic investments from General Motors ( GM ) and Orion Resource

Partners.

Last year, the DOE also took a ​5% stake in Lithium Americas ( LAC ) and a separate 5% stake in the

Thacker Pass ​project.