Potential Delay in Piedmont Lithium Development (Permitting) Could Tesla be on the search for alternative Canadian or US Spodumene concentrate source as Piedmont doesn't appear to have an approved State mining plan in place nor has the Company even applied for a State mining permit and already $58 Million spent on the project.
A few highlights from the Reuters article are the following:
In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors
[Reuters, July 20, 2021]
GASTON COUNTY, N.C., July 20 (Reuters) - In its quest to build one of the largest lithium mines in the United States, Piedmont Lithium Inc (PLL.O) has overlooked one crucial constituency: its North Carolina neighbors.
The company, however, has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.
Five of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected.
"Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse," said Tom Keigher, chair of the board of commissioners.
"Why in the world would they make this deal with Tesla before they even have approval for the mine?"
"This has been the worst rollout of a project from a company I've ever seen," said Chad Brown, a commissioner who opposes the mine.
Piedmont has already spent $58 million on the project, which would produce about 30,000 tonnes of lithium annually, enough to make about 3 million EVs.
Piedmont's deal with Tesla involves supplying roughly 53,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate to the automaker's planned lithium hydroxide chemical plant in Texas starting sometime between July 2022 and July 2023.