A U.S. district judge denied a request for an emergency injunction to block construction of Lithium Americas' ( NYSE: LAC ) proposed Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada near the Oregon state line.
Judge Miranda Du sided with the company against environmentalists and tribal leaders seeking to prohibit any work at the largest known U.S. lithium deposit until the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals can hear their latest appeal.
The judge said she denied the request because she concluded the plaintiffs were unlikely to prevail on an appeal challenging her ruling earlier this month that found the U.S. Bureau of Land Management largely complied with federal law when it approved the mining plans in January 2021.
The ruling appears to clear the way for Lithium Americas ( LAC ) to begin construction at Thacker Pass as soon as next week.
Shares of lithium producers have moved mostly lower since reports a week ago said Chinese battery maker CATL has offered discounts to some automakers it supplies, reflecting a downturn in lithium prices .
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Lithium America gets judge's OK to build huge Nevada lithium mine