PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Lithium developer Piedmont Lithium has tapped Primero Group as the preferred engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) as well as operations contractor for its planned spodumene concentrator in North Carolina.
The two companies have entered into a memorandum of understanding to work together on an exclusive basis to agree on binding documentation relating to the definitive feasibility study, front-end engineering design, EPC delivery, commissioning, ramp-up and contract operations of the concentrator.
“We are very pleased to be working with Primero as we advance our integrated lithium hydroxide project. Primero is the world-leader in the design, construction and operation of spodumene concentrate plants, with extensive involvement in many of the producing operations in Western Australia and leadership roles in Canada, Brazil and Portugal,” said Piedmont president and CEO Keith Phillips.
“This is a key milestone as we build out our project execution team, with an emphasis on working with proven processes and experienced professionals.”
The prefeasibility study (PFS) into the proposed lithium hydroxide chemicals plant in Kings Mountain had proven the optionality of a standalone merchant chemicals plant that would convert purchased spodumene concentrate, while a scoping study into an integrated mine-to-hydroxide project had also confirmed that the company could be a low-cost strategic producer of battery grade lithium hydroxide.
The PFS into the potential merchant project estimated that 22 720 t/y of lithium hydroxide could be produced over a project life of 25 years, at an average cost of production of $6 689/t.