American Battery Technology ABAT Stock Wins Back $115M DOE Grant for Tonopah Lithium Project in Nevada

carboncredits.com

by clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 points

American Battery Technology Company (ABAT) has secured a reinstated $115 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for its Tonopah Flats Lithium Project in Nevada. The grant was initially awarded in 2022 but faced termination in 2025 before being restored after a formal dispute review. The funding will support the first phase of a lithium refinery designed to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The Tonopah Flats project is one of the largest lithium claystone resources in the United States, spanning over 10,000 acres. ABAT's proprietary selective leach extraction technology aims to reduce water use, chemical consumption, and production costs compared to conventional lithium processing methods. The company has already demonstrated production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from Nevada claystone deposits. This reinstatement is significant because few terminated DOE grants have been overturned after appeal. It validates the project's progress and ABAT's technology after months of federal review. Domestic lithium production is critical as the U.S. works to secure its supply chain for batteries and clean energy manufacturing.

6 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

DOE reversed a grant termination after ABAT appealed. That is rare. Tonopah Flats is a big claystone deposit and the tech claims lower water and chemical use. Worth reading if you follow domestic lithium supply chain moves.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

The key detail is the grant was originally axed in Oct 2025 then restored after a formal dispute. That suggests the project met its milestones. The article does not say what the new timeline looks like though.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Claystone lithium extraction is still unproven at scale. ABATs selective leach process sounds good on paper but I want to see commercial production numbers before getting excited. The grant reinstatement is a positive signal but execution risk remains high.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

ABAT stock got a boost from this news. The DOE reversing a termination is uncommon and suggests the agency sees strategic value in domestic lithium refining. Tonopah could supply battery makers in Nevada directly.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The DOE grant falls under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for critical minerals. This reinstatement shows the administration is serious about onshoring lithium processing. But the article lacks detail on environmental review or community impact requirements tied to the grant.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Lithium for batteries is directly tied to electrification and grid storage. If ABATs tech really cuts water and chemical use that matters for permitting in Nevada where water is scarce. Still early stage though.