PERTH – Dual-listed lithium miner Piedmont Lithium has selected a site in Tennessee for the development of a new lithium hydroxide project, targeted to be the largest of its kind in the US.
The 30 000 t/y lithium hydroxide operation is expected to start production in 2025, and will convert spodumene concentrate sourced from Piedmont’s global project into lithium hydroxide to supply the US electric vehicle manufacturing industry.Piedmont said on Friday that the Tennessee lithium hydroxide plant would complement the company’s planned Carolina lithium operation, and would bring its US-based production capacity to 60 000 t/y by 2026.
This would be a significant increase on the total lithium hydroxide capacity of 15 000 t/y currently within the US.
Phillips said that the Tennessee site was selected based on the cooperative government relations, access to infrastructure, including rail, road and river transportation, a capable workforce, and a constructive business environment, as well as its proximity to the battery and automotive plants being constructed by prospective customers.
Front-end engineering design for the Tennessee lithium project is expected to conclude in the first half of 2023, and will include a definitive feasibility study, targeted for completion by the end of 2022.