Lithium

Planned and under-construction lithium projects with a publicly announced capital cost, public financial backing, or both. Each line is one statement by the named publisher on the given date; the atlas adds nothing to it.

• Cínovec lithium projectPlannedMine and processing

  Geomet s.r.o. · Cínovec and Prunéřov, Ústí nad Labem Region · Czech Republic · Lithium

  “definitive feasibility study complete; shareholders will decide on the implementation and financing of the next stage” · status as printed on 2025-12-19ČEZ

  Announced capital cost

  CZK 42 bn2025-12-19ČEZ

  total investment of the lithium park (printed as 'more than 42 billion CZK') · ČEZ

  The publisher's words: “The total investment of the lithium park is estimated at more than 42 billion CZK.”

  Public backing

  • no amount statedStrategic project status · “recognised as Strategic Project (Commission Decision C(2025) 1904, annex item 9)” · 2025-03-25European Commission

    European Commission

    The publisher's words: “Cínovec lithium project is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in Czechia. The project promoted by Geomet s.r.o.”

  • CZK 800 MGrant · “subsidy received this April” · 2025-12-19ČEZ

    Fair Transition Fund

    The publisher's words: “the CZK 800 million subsidy from the Fair Transition Fund that Geomet received this April”

  • EUR 350 MGrant · “approved a subsidy of up to; to be drawn between 2029 and 2031” · 2025-12-19ČEZ

    Czech government (Strategic Investments for a Climate Neutral Economy programme)

    The publisher's words: “Czech government also approved a subsidy of up to 350 million euros (CZK 8.8 billion) from the Strategic Investments for a Climate Neutral Economy programme”

• Lithium Hydroxide Converter GubenPlannedProcessing

  Rock Tech Guben GmbH · Guben, Brandenburg · Germany · Lithium

  “fully permitted; CapEx estimate updated” · status as printed on 2025-10-23Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

  Announced capital cost

  EUR 680 M2025-10-23Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

  CapEx for commissioning the facility (management estimate) · Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

  The publisher's words: “management now estimates the CapEx for commissioning the facility at approximately €680 million, compared to the prior estimate of €730 million”

  Public backing

  • no amount statedStrategic project status · “recognised as Strategic Project (Commission Decision C(2025) 1904, annex item 24)” · 2025-03-25European Commission

    European Commission

    The publisher's words: “Lithium Hydroxide Converter Guben is an ongoing processing project in Germany. The project promoted by Rock Tech Guben GmbH”

  • EUR 90 MGrant · “has issued an LOI committing up to” · 2024-06-27Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

    Brandenburg’s Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy

    The publisher's words: “Brandenburg’s Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy has issued an LOI committing up to 90 million EUR in grants”

  • EUR 10 MGrant · “application for federal funding has been confirmed” · 2024-12-31Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

    German Railway Authority

    The publisher's words: “application for federal funding from the German Railway Authority has been confirmed and will provide a contribution of another 10 million Euros in grants”

  Later statements

  • Brandenburg’s Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy: The LOI expired on December 31, 2024.2024-12-31Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

    The publisher's words: “The LOI expired on December 31, 2024.”

• Zero Carbon Lithium (Phase One Lionheart Project)Under constructionMine and processing

  Vulcan Energie Ressourcen GmbH · Upper Rhine Valley · Germany · Lithium

  “Final Investment Decision in December 2025, when construction activities officially commenced” · status as printed on 2026-05-27Vulcan Energy

  Announced capital cost

  No announced capital cost was read.

  Public backing

  • no amount statedStrategic project status · “recognised as Strategic Project (Commission Decision C(2025) 1904, annex item 47)” · 2025-03-25European Commission

    European Commission

    The publisher's words: “Zero Carbon Lithium is an ongoing extraction project in Germany. The project promoted by Vulcan Energie Ressourcen GmbH”

  • EUR 150 MEquity · “is investing up to” · 2026-09-09KfW

    Raw Materials Fund (managed by KfW, under the Germany Fund)

    The publisher's words: “Raw Materials Fund, under the umbrella of the Germany Fund, is investing up to EUR 150 million in the implementation of the ambitious Lionheart project”

  Linked, not quoted (the publisher's terms forbid reuse, so no figure is taken from the page): European Investment Bank

• EMILIPlannedMine and processing

  IMERYS Ceramics France and IMERYS Lithium France · Allier · France · Lithium

  “finalisation de l'étude de faisabilité définitive, jalon majeur prévu début 2027” · status as printed on 2026-02-11Ministère de l'Économie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle, énergétique et numérique

  Announced capital cost

  No announced capital cost was read.

  Public backing

  • no amount statedStrategic project status · “recognised as Strategic Project (Commission Decision C(2025) 1904, annex item 12)” · 2025-03-25European Commission

    European Commission

    The publisher's words: “EMILI is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in France. The project promoted by IMERYS Ceramics France and IMERYS Lithium France”

  • EUR 50 MEquity · “prise de participation de l'État au capital du projet (annoncée)” · 2026-02-11Ministère de l'Économie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle, énergétique et numérique

    État français (via Banque des Territoires, France 2030)

    The publisher's words: “L'investissement de l'État d'un montant de 50 millions d'euros”Our translation: “The State's investment of 50 million euros”

  • EUR 116 MGrant · “table column 'Innovation Fund grant (EUR million)'; project start 01/09/2026; covers the lithium hydroxide refinery plant” · 2026-11-01European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

    EU Innovation Fund

    The publisher's words: “01/09/2026 Imerys Holding | Imerys 2,332,289 116.0”

• Barroso Lithium ProjectPlannedMine

  Savannah Lithium, Unipessoal, Lda. · Portugal · Lithium

  “Production targeted for end 2028” · status as printed on 2026-10-01Savannah Resources Plc

  Announced capital cost

  USD 418 M2026-10-01Savannah Resources Plc

  Capex total including pre-strip & contingency (Phase 1 DFS, July 2026); US$323m net of the State Grant · Savannah Resources Plc

  The publisher's words: “Capex: Total of US$418m including pre-strip & contingency US$323m required net of US$95m contribution from State Grant”

  Public backing

  • no amount statedStrategic project status · “recognised as Strategic Project (Commission Decision C(2025) 1904, annex item 5)” · 2025-03-25European Commission

    European Commission

    The publisher's words: “Barroso Lithium Project is an ongoing extraction project in Portugal. The project promoted by Savannah Lithium, Unipessoal, Lda.”

  • EUR 110 MGrant · “Awarded a non-reimbursable grant of up to” · 2026-04-15Savannah Resources Plc

    Portuguese State

    The publisher's words: “Awarded a non-reimbursable grant of up to EUR110m by the Portuguese State”

  • USD 270 MLoan guarantee · “eligible for a loan guarantee” · 2026-04-15Savannah Resources Plc

    German Government

    The publisher's words: “eligible for a loan guarantee from the German Government for up to USD270m”

• Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron ProjectPlannedMine and processing

  Ioneer · Nevada · United States · Lithium

  “the Board will be positioned to consider a Final Investment Decision (FID)” · status as printed on 2026-08Ioneer

  Announced capital cost

  USD 1.68 bn2025-10-29Ioneer

  AACE Class 2 capital cost estimate (-10%, +15%) including a 10% contingency; table row: Initial capital expenditure (including contingencies) US$M 1,683.2 · Ioneer

  The publisher's words: “U.S.$1,683 million – AACE Class 2 capital cost estimate (-10%, +15%) including a 10% contingency”

  Public backing

  • USD 996 MLoan · “closed” · 2025-12-19Ioneer

    U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Dominance Financing (formerly Loan Programs Office)

    The publisher's words: “In January, Rhyolite Ridge closed a US$996 million loan with the U.S. Department of Energy”

  • no amount statedLoan · “has conditions to first draw” · 2025-12-19Ioneer

    U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Dominance Financing (formerly Loan Programs Office)

    The publisher's words: “$968 million in principal and $28 million in capitalised interest and has conditions to first draw”

• South West Arkansas ProjectPlannedMine and processing

  Smackover Lithium · southern Arkansas · United States · Lithium

  “expects to take FID by the end of the first quarter of 2027” · status as printed on 2026-11-13Standard Lithium Ltd.

  Announced capital cost

  USD 1.45 bn2026-11-13Standard Lithium Ltd.

  All-in Class III capex estimate (Definitive Feasibility Study), includes a 12.3% contingency · Standard Lithium Ltd.

  The publisher's words: “All-in Class III capex estimate of $1.45 billion includes a 12.3% Monte Carlo risked contingency.”

  Public backing

  • USD 225 MGrant · “closed” · 2025-01-16Standard Lithium Ltd.

    U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains

    The publisher's words: “has closed the US$225 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s”

• Thacker PassUnder constructionMine and processing

  Lithium Americas Corp. · Humboldt County, Nevada · United States · Lithium

  “major construction of the processing plant at Thacker Pass Phase 1” · status as printed on 2026-05-14Lithium Americas Corp.

  Announced capital cost

  USD 2.93 bn2026-05-14Lithium Americas Corp.

  total Capex estimate per the Company's Technical Report (effective December 31, 2024), Thacker Pass Phase 1; source says it did not include any exposure to tariffs · Lithium Americas Corp.

  The publisher's words: “of which $1.1 billion is part of the total Capex estimate of $2.93 billion per the Company’s Technical Report.”

  Public backing

  • USD 2.26 bnLoan · “closed” · 2025-03-28Lithium Americas Corp.

    U.S. Department of Energy, Loan Programs Office

    The publisher's words: “Loan Programs Office closed a $2.26 billion loan under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program”

  • no amount statedEquity · “restructured its deal; 5% equity ownership in the form of LAC warrants” · 2025-09-30U.S. Department of Energy

    U.S. Department of Energy, Loan Programs Office

    The publisher's words: “The new terms provide the U.S. Government with 5% equity ownership in the form of LAC warrants”

  • USD 2.23 bnLoan · “Project financing for Phase 1 includes a $2.23 billion loan” · 2026-05-14Lithium Americas Corp.

    U.S. Department of Energy

    The publisher's words: “Project financing for Phase 1 includes a $2.23 billion loan from the U.S. DOE and strategic investments from GM and Orion.”

A short, hand-read list, not a census: 19 projects in all. Announced amounts are not spending, a letter of interest or a conditional commitment is not a loan, and amounts stay in the currency of the announcement.

Stockpiles, price floors, offtake and purchasing programmes and public funds whose source names lithium, and general critical-minerals instruments (marked). Each is one statement by its publisher.

1. 2024-05-23in force from · European UnionJoint purchasingin forceOfficial Journal of the European Union

   The Critical Raw Materials Act obliges the Commission to run a demand-aggregation and joint-purchasing system for strategic raw materials and to set a benchmark for strategic stocks.

   Covers: “strategic raw materials” · Materials: Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Lithium, Graphite, Nickel, Rare earths, Tungsten

   The publisher's words: “The Commission shall set up and operate a system to aggregate the demand of interested undertakings consuming strategic raw materials established in the Union”

   2 further statements from the source

   joint negotiation of purchases allowed (Article 25(5))Official Journal of the European Union

   The publisher's words: “may, on a transparent basis, jointly negotiate the purchase, including the prices or other terms and conditions of the purchasing agreement”

   coordination of strategic stocks (Article 23)Official Journal of the European Union

   The publisher's words: “shall adopt a benchmark indicating a safe level of Union strategic stocks of strategic raw materials”

2. 2025-06-17announced · G7Other supportannouncedPrime Minister of Canada

   G7 leaders launched a Critical Minerals Action Plan with a roadmap for standards-based markets and a call for more public and private capital for critical minerals projects.

   Covers: “critical minerals”

   critical minerals in general; the source does not name lithium

   The publisher's words: “We will develop a roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals”

   3 further statements from the source

   launch of the planPrime Minister of Canada

   The publisher's words: “We are launching a G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan”

   roadmap contentPrime Minister of Canada

   The publisher's words: “The roadmap will establish a set of criteria that constitute a minimum threshold for standards-based markets”

   capital mobilisationPrime Minister of Canada

   The publisher's words: “We encourage our export credit agencies and development finance institutions (DFIs) to identify more opportunities for collaboration”

3. 2025-11-04published · CanadaFundannouncedDepartment of Finance Canada

   Budget 2025 proposes a Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund at Natural Resources Canada for equity investments, loan guarantees and offtake agreements, and a First and Last Mile Fund.

   CAD 2 bn · “$2 billion over five years, on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27”

   Covers: “critical minerals projects and companies”

   critical minerals in general; the source does not name lithium

   The publisher's words: “provide $2 billion over five years, on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27, to Natural Resources Canada to create the Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund”

   3 further statements from the source

   tools of the fundDepartment of Finance Canada

   The publisher's words: “including equity investments, loan guarantees, and offtake agreements”

   First and Last Mile FundDepartment of Finance Canada

   The publisher's words: “provide $371.8 million over four years, starting in 2026-27, to Natural Resources Canada to create the First and Last Mile Fund”

   absorbs the Critical Minerals Infrastructure FundDepartment of Finance Canada

   The publisher's words: “would absorb the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund and leverage its existing funding envelope to provide up to $1.5 billion in support through 2029-30”

4. 2025-11-22published · United KingdomFundannouncedDepartment for Business and Trade

   The UK critical minerals strategy Vision 2035 announces public funding for critical mineral projects and says stockpiling through procurement will be considered for the defence sector.

   GBP 50 M · “up to £50 million”

   Covers: “critical mineral projects in the UK”

   critical minerals in general; the source does not name lithium

   The publisher's words: “funding of up to £50 million will be made available by DBT to support critical mineral projects”

   2 further statements from the source

   stockpiling under considerationDepartment for Business and Trade

   The publisher's words: “Measures could include stockpiling, including through procurement mechanisms”

   later programme page (published 22 June 2026): grant shareDepartment for Business and Trade

   The publisher's words: “with £45 million of this available as grant funding”

5. 2025-12-03announced · European UnionFundannouncedEuropean Commission

   The Commission adopted the RESourceEU Action Plan: project financing, a European Critical Raw Materials Centre, joint purchasing through the Raw Materials Platform and a stockpiling pilot.

   EUR 3 bn · “up to €3 billion over the next 12 months”

   Covers: “critical raw materials, such as rare earth elements, cobalt or lithium” · Materials: Rare earths, Cobalt, Lithium

   The publisher's words: “The EU will mobilise up to €3 billion over the next 12 months to support concrete projects”

   5 further statements from the source

   adoptionEuropean Commission

   The publisher's words: “The European Commission has adopted today the RESourceEU Action Plan”

   European Critical Raw Materials Centre plannedEuropean Commission

   The publisher's words: “In early 2026, the Commission will set up a European Critical Raw Materials Centre”

   joint purchasing and offtake via the Raw Materials PlatformEuropean Commission

   The publisher's words: “the Raw Materials Platform will facilitate the efforts of the companies to aggregate demand, jointly purchase strategic raw materials and secure offtake agreements”

   stockpiling pilotEuropean Commission

   The publisher's words: “with a pilot scheme set to become operational in early 2026”

   materials namedEuropean Commission

   The publisher's words: “secure the EU's supply of critical raw materials, such as rare earth elements, cobalt or lithium”

6. 2026-01-14signed · United StatesPrice floorannouncedThe White House

   Presidential proclamation under section 232 directing negotiations on imports of processed critical minerals, in which price floors for trade in critical minerals are to be considered.

   Covers: “processed critical minerals and their derivative products (PCMDPs)”

   critical minerals in general; the source does not name lithium

   The publisher's words: “the Secretary and the Trade Representative should consider price floors for trade in critical minerals and other trade-restricting measures”

7. 2026-02-02announced · United StatesStockpileannouncedExport-Import Bank of the United States

   The Export-Import Bank approved a direct loan for Project Vault, a public-private partnership that is to establish a U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve storing raw materials for manufacturers.

   USD 10 bn · “a Direct Loan of up to $10 billion”

   Covers: “essential raw materials”

   critical minerals in general; the source does not name lithium

   The publisher's words: “the EXIM Board of Directors approved a Direct Loan of up to $10 billion to Project Vault”

   4 further statements from the source

   what it establishesExport-Import Bank of the United States

   The publisher's words: “a supply chain security initiative establishing the U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve”

   storageExport-Import Bank of the United States

   The publisher's words: “that will store essential raw materials in facilities across the United States”

   borrower structureExport-Import Bank of the United States

   The publisher's words: “providing long-term financing to a partnership between original equipment manufacturers and private sector capital providers”

   later EXIM release of May 4, 2026 restating the loanExport-Import Bank of the United States

   The publisher's words: “The transaction includes a direct loan of up to $10 billion”

There is no open price series for lithium, so these instruments are listed without a chart.