By Anita Hamilton

The stock of miner Lithium Americas, which is developing a lithium deposit in Nevada to supply the critical mineral for batteries, nearly doubled in aftermarket trading Tuesday, on news that the U.S. government is in negotiations to take a stake in the Canadian company.

The U.S. proposed an equity stake as a way to renegotiate a $2.3 billion Energy Department loan granted during the Biden administration. "This is a great critical minerals deal," a Trump administration official told Barron's while declining to provide the exact share of the company that the government is seeking. "It's a small stake," the official said, adding that negotiations are ongoing.

Reuters reported that the U.S. government was considering a stake in the company of as much as 10%.

Shares of Lithium Americas rose 98.7% to $6.10 in after-hours trading. Before shooting up after the closing bell, the stock had risen around 3% for the year and 25% over the past 52 weeks.

The company announced in December that it had entered into a joint venture with GM in which Lithium Americas owns 62% of the project known as Thacker Pass in Humboldt County, Nevada, while GM owns the rest. The mine is expected to be operational by 2028.

The U.S. has recently announced stakes in several other companies, including 10% in Intel, which it secured by converting another loan granted during the Biden administration into an equity stake. In July, it invested $400 million in rare earth miner MP Materials.

The news comes as the Trump administration aims to boost manufacturing in the U.S. through increased investment from both domestic and international companies.

The effort hit a speed bump earlier this month, when an electric vehicle battery factory being developed in Georgia by Hyundai and LG Energy Solution halted construction following an immigration raid. Hyundai said the raid will slow the plant's opening by a few months.

Write to Anita Hamilton at anita.hamilton@barrons.com

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September 23, 2025 17:49 ET (21:49 GMT)

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