Feature, Freight News, Logistics

CB&I Awarded Tank Contract for Thacker Pass

[ September 12, 2025   //   Gary Burrows ]

CB&I, a leading designer and builder of storage facilities, tanks and terminals, said it has been awarded a contract for the Thacker Pass lithium mine project in Humboldt County.

The pass is the world’s largest known measured lithium resource (measured and indicated) and reserve (proven and probable). The mine is an engineering, procurement, fabrication, and construction, EPFC, contract, managed by Bechtel.

CB&I contracted with Lithium Nevada LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lithium Americas Corp., to build 36 flat-bottom atmospheric tanks, will store various process solutions, chemicals and products that are used during the multiple stages of purification to extract lithium from clay deposits. The tanks will be situated adjacent to the sulfuric acid plant and will store liquid sulfur and sulfuric acid which play an important role in the facility’s operation.

As demand for lithium is expected to increase over the next decade, Thacker Pass is expected to play a vital role in reducing U.S. reliance on foreign critical minerals and creating a secure domestic lithium battery supply chain.

Mark Butts, CB&I president and CEO, said the project was “of national significance” that will “enable a U.S. supply of lithium and create well-paying jobs.

The tanks, which are designed to meet stringent environmental, seismic and safety requirements, will be constructed using CB&I’s proprietary field construction methods and advanced fabrication capabilities.

“CB&I’s expertise in large-scale storage infrastructure for complex industrial processes that require precise specifications, and reliability makes them a great fit for Thacker Pass,” said Richard Gerspacher, Lithium Americas’ executive vice president, capital projects.

“CB&I is an example of the industry-leading contractors and suppliers that have joined the team delivering Thacker Pass,” said Bechtel Deputy Project Director, Dan Dawson. “We welcome them to the project and look forward to seeing the tanks take shape as the plant comes together.”

CB&I, which is owned by a consortium of financial investors led by Mason Capital Management LLC, defines a “large contract” as between US$50 million and US$100 million.

Tags: CB&I, Lithium Nevada LLC, Thacker Pass lithium mine