A Nevada mining company will lose out on a $57 million federal grant to build a manufacturing plant for battery-grade lithium hydroxide near Tonopah.

In a Monday statement, American Battery Technology Co. CEO Ryan Melsert said he’s proud of the progress on the project and will keep working with the Trump administration to see it through.

If granted federal permits, the Tonopah Flats Lithium Project about 5 miles west of Tonopah is expected to further solidify Nevada as the nation’s leader in lithium production. Currently, only one operational lithium mine exists in the country, in Esmeralda County: Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine .

“All evidence demonstrates that this critical minerals project aligns with the Administration’s mission and key priorities, especially as this project was recen

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