Lithium Americas explodiert um 90% nach Trump-Bestätigung: USA kaufen 10% Unternehmensanteil

Eine politische Bombe zündet den Lithium-Markt - Trump persönlich bestätigt den Einstieg der US-Regierung bei Lithium Americas.

Rohstoff-Poker mit Staatsgarantie

Die Aktie schießt um 90% in die Höhe - genau die Zahl, die Anlegerherzen höher schlagen lässt. Plötzlich wird klar: Lithium ist nicht irgendein Metall, sondern der Treibstoff der Energiewende. Und wenn die US-Regierung zuschlägt, zieht der ganze Markt nach.

Strategisches Spiel mit offenen Karten

10% Anteilssprung bedeutet mehr als nur Kapital - es ist ein politisches Signal an die Batterieindustrie. Während Analysten noch über Bewertungen diskutieren, macht die Regierung einfach. Typisch Washington: Erst jahrelang über Infrastruktur reden, dann mit einem Federstrich den Markt umkrempeln.

Die Lithium-Rally zeigt, wie staatliche Intervention moderne Märkte dominiert - zum Glück der Aktionäre, zum Leidwesen puristischer Marktfundamentalisten.

Trump ties government cash to direct ownership

The proposed stake follows Trump’s playbook of pushing federal cash into sectors his administration sees as vital to national security. That includes earlier moves into Intel and MP Materials. This time, it’s Lithium Americas, a company valued at about $750 million, that’s in the crosshairs.

“President Trump supports this project. He wants it to succeed and also be fair to taxpayers,” said a WHITE House official. “But there’s no such thing as free money.”

The original 24-year loan, set up by the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, was signed off under President Joe Biden. It comes with interest tied to the U.S. Treasury rate. Lithium Americas was scheduled to draw the first tranche earlier this month, but talks were put on pause after Trump officials raised red flags about the company’s ability to repay, citing low lithium prices triggered by China’s overproduction.

The equity demand came up during discussions about changing the amortization schedule, not the interest or total repayment. In response, Lithium Americas offered no-cost warrants equal to 5% to 10% of its shares, plus funds to cover extra fees.

The government already built in safety triggers in the original loan agreement. If the project is delayed or goes over budget, Washington has options to take control of the site.

White House pushes GM to give up project control

General Motors, which owns a 38% stake in Thacker Pass after investing $625 million last year, is also being dragged into the renegotiation. GM currently has the exclusive right to purchase all the lithium from the mine’s first phase, and a share of phase two, for the next 20 years. The White House now wants a firm guarantee from GM to actually buy the lithium and is demanding that GM hand over parts of the project to federal control.

GM is treating the federal loan as essential to building out its electric vehicle battery supply chain. “We’re confident in the project, which supports the administration’s goals,” said a GM spokesperson. The company added that Trump “strongly supported” the mine during his first term.

The mine has long been treated as a rare point of agreement between Republicans and Democrats. Everyone in D.C. seems to want to cut reliance on China, which produces over 40,000 metric tons of lithium per year and refines more than 75% of the world’s supply.

By contrast, the only U.S. lithium output right now is less than 5,000 metric tons, produced by Albemarle in Nevada. Thacker Pass’s first phase alone is expected to push out 40,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate per year, enough to power 800,000 electric vehicles.

As of now, Lithium Americas says it’s still negotiating. “We respect the LPO’s decision to pursue a restructure and remain in active discussions with the Department of Energy and our partner, GM, and will provide an update at the appropriate time,” the company said in a statement.

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