Lithium Americas Corp.

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020, 2023)

Process’ principal source of energy is designed to be solar evaporation resulting in a low overall carbon footprint. Furthermore, water requirements for processing are relatively low as compared to other lithium carbonate production processes. Process water will be sourced from aquifers that do not naturally meet drinking water standards. Minera Exar’s objective is to continue to explore ways to further reduce the project’s environmental footprint and produce lithium in an environmentally responsible manner.
Compared to the original mine plan, the Company has identified ways to reduce water consumption by approximately 50% through extensive recycling. In the long term, our objective is to achieve carbon neutral operations at Thacker Pass.

Minera Exar’s office in Jujuy is coordinating recruitment and other human resource initiatives in the regional community. Considering the company’s commitment to the local communities, numerous local service providers have been engaged to provide services to Minera Exar and a training program is in place, providing operations training to people in the local communities.
Lithium Americas made the decision in 2018 to move the project south of the Montana Mountains to avoid disturbing sensitive ecological areas located within the mountains.
Lithium Americas made the decision in 2018 to move the project south of the Montana Mountains to avoid disturbing sensitive ecological areas located within the mountains.
A Project Engagement Agreement with the local Fort McDermitt Tribe continues to be in place to ensure that tribal members are fully engaged and informed about the project, including employment and training opportunities that will be available prior to proposed construction and operations.
Lithium Americas has established essential job training programs specific to positions that will be available during planned Project construction, and throughout Thacker Pass operations.
Lithium Americas has entered into a Project Engagement Agreement with the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe (the “Tribe”) to extend training, jobs and economic opportunities.

Lithium Americas published its inaugural 2019 Sustainability Report prepared with reference to the GRI standards predicated on a robust materiality assessment and comprehensive disclosures on management approaches to the Company’s material environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) topics.

Long-term Goals:

COVID-19 pandemic impacted the development program for the Cauchari-Olaroz Project in multiple respects in 2020, which has delayed the completion timeline for the project.
provincial authorities have also imposed several restrictions, particularly on the inter-provincial movement of people. These restrictions continue to impact Minera Exar’s ability to resume full construction activities, as they limit the ability of certain service providers and the workforce of Minera Exar to travel to and from the site, carry out some construction-related activities and exercise oversight of construction activities.
In July 2020, a number of asymptomatic COVID-19 positive cases were detected among Minera Exar workers. This triggered Minera Exar, under existing health and safety protocols, to test the workforce in coordination with provincial health authorities.

Minera Exar implemented COVID-19 health and safety protocols, approved by Jujuy Province, at site and at the Jujuy office. Following this, limited construction activities resumed in mid-April 2020.
Minera Exar implemented a new protocol (“Protocol”), in cooperation with medical experts in Argentina to screen for COVID-19 among its workforce.
The Protocol includes extended quarantine periods for workers before accessing the site coupled with rapid testing, limits the use of camp capacity in accordance with the Province of Jujuy regulations along with related health and safety measures such a physical distancing and a reduced workforce on site.
Minera Exar has been actively supporting the Province of Jujuy’s efforts to manage COVID-19, including through donations to buy medical and testing supplies for the Province, and providing local communities neighbouring the project with facilities for medical staff and supplies.

Frameworks Used: GRI