“This is an exciting day for all of us at Piedmont Lithium,” said Keith Phillips, president and CEO, Piedmont Lithium. He thanked the leadership and staff at NCDEQ and DEMLR for their diligence in the process, as well as the members of the Piedmont team that he said worked rigorously for more than 2.5 years to ensure that every aspect of the project met the state’s high standards for approval.

“We plan to develop Carolina Lithium as one of the lowest-cost, most sustainable lithium hydroxide operations in the world, and as a critical part of the American electric vehicle supply chain,” he said. “The project is expected to contribute billions of dollars of economic output and several hundred jobs to Gaston County and North Carolina’s growing electrification economy.”

Located within both the renowned Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt and the U.S. Battery Belt, the project is being designed as a fully integrated mining, spodumene concentrate, and lithium hydroxide manufacturing operation. “There are currently no such integrated sites operating anywhere in the world, and the economic and environmental advantages of this strategy are compelling,” Phillips said.

The North Carolina mining permit approval is the precursor for the county rezoning process, Phillips explained, “and we look forward to continued engagement with the local community and the Gaston County Board of Commissioners.” He said construction would commence following receipt of all required permits, rezoning approvals, and project financing activities.