Name of the Project
Piedmont lithium project.

Location
The project is located within the Carolina tin-spodumene belt, in North Carolina, in the US.

Client
Piedmont Lithium.

Project Description
A scoping study has determined that the Project has compelling projected economics owing to low initial capital, early spodumene concentrate sales, attractive capital and operating costs, short transportation distances, minimal royalties and low corporate income taxes.

The study is based on a maiden mineral resource of 16.19-million tonnes grading 1.12% lithium oxide (Li₂O).

The scoping study proposes a staged development to minimise start-up risk.

The development includes a 22 700 t/y chemicals plant supported by a mine/concentrator producing 170 000 t/y of 6% Li₂O low-iron spodumene concentrate.

The mining production target is estimated at 13.3-million tonnes at an average run-of-mine grade of 1.04% Li₂O (diluted) over a 13-year mine life.

The project will produce 22 700 t/y of lithium hydroxide.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an after-tax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $777-million and an internal rate of return of 56%, with a payback of about two years.

Value
Initial capital expenditure for Stage 1 is estimated at $91-million for the mine/concentrator.

Stage 2 capex for the chemicals plant is expected to be funded largely by internal cash flow.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Piedmont will now progress with a prefeasibility study (PFS), which is scheduled for completion in early 2019.

A contract-mined versus owner-operated mining operation will be evaluated in the PFS.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
CSA Global (resource estimation and mine design and scheduling); North Carolina State University’s Minerals Research Laboratory (metallurgical testwork); Hazen Research (metallurgical assays); Primero Group (process engineering and infrastructure); HDR Engineering (permitting, environment and social studies); Johnston, Allison and Hord (land title and legal); and Global Lithium (marketability).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Piedmont Lithium, tel +61 8 9322 6322 or email info@piedmontlithium.com.