North Carolina

TexasTowelie

(116,875 posts) Wed Jul 21, 2021, 04:47 AM Jul 2021

In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors

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.

Piedmont last autumn signed a deal to supply U.S. electric automaker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) with lithium sourced from its deposits in North Carolina, sending the company's stock up tenfold.

Piedmont has also hired investment banks to find investors for its $840 million project, which would include an open-air pit more than 500 feet (152 m) deep and facilities to produce lithium-based electric vehicle (EV) battery chemicals.

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.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/push-supply-tesla-piedmont-lithium-irks-north-carolina-neighbors-2021-07-20/

8 replies

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In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors (Original Post) TexasTowelie Jul 2021 OP

It's not easy to open and operate a mine in NC. littlemissmartypants Jul 2021 #1

You're welcome. TexasTowelie Jul 2021 #2

Charlotte activists will fight this. blm Jul 2021 #5

Last I looked, all pit mines are by definition "open-air". . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jul 2021 #3

mine the damn ash ponds mopinko Jul 2021 #4

S.O.P. for a controversial project like this to put as much financial spin on it Ford_Prefect Jul 2021 #6

Believe you are correct. KS Toronado Jul 2021 #8

This isn't going to happen obamanut2012 Jul 2021 #7

littlemissmartypants

(25,542 posts)

1. It's not easy to open and operate a mine in NC.

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Jul 21, 2021, 05:00 AM

Jul 2021

It took over five years of back and forth for one close to me to even get permits to get started.

Thanks for sharing this, TT.

❤

TexasTowelie

(116,875 posts)

2. You're welcome.

Reply to littlemissmartypants (Reply #1)

Wed Jul 21, 2021, 05:29 AM

Jul 2021

I suspect that the locals will become more involved as the plans continue to develop. Might need some popcorn while we wait to see how this turns out.

blm

(113,826 posts)

5. Charlotte activists will fight this.

Reply to TexasTowelie (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 21, 2021, 06:04 AM

Jul 2021

Gaston is their neighboring county.

Bernardo de La Paz

(50,934 posts)

3. Last I looked, all pit mines are by definition "open-air". . . . nt

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Jul 21, 2021, 05:31 AM

Jul 2021

mopinko

(71,836 posts)

4. mine the damn ash ponds

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Jul 21, 2021, 05:51 AM

Jul 2021

that shit has plenty of lithium, and lots of groovy metals.

it's a chem 101 process to extract it. c'mon man.

Ford_Prefect

(8,202 posts)

6. S.O.P. for a controversial project like this to put as much financial spin on it

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Wed Jul 21, 2021, 06:09 AM

Jul 2021

BEFORE they actually have permitting and EPA approval.

It begs the question of just how viable the mine site is and how valuable it will be once the project has been sold to the legislature. It's Banana Republic finance: Hype it, Sell it to a 3rd party and get out of town before the dust clears and the law suits land.

This isn't designed to be a on-going business. It's a strip-mall arrangement built to be sold on to the next round of investors after the first wave of investment cash has been raked off and sent to the Caymans.

You heard it here first.