Piedmont Lithium Plans Development Funding for Ewoyaa
August 17 2023 - 06:50AM
Business Wire
Company exercises option to acquire 22.5% stake
in Atlantic Lithium’s flagship project
- Piedmont making staged investments to earn 50% of Atlantic
Lithium’s Ghanaian portfolio
- Support for Ewoyaa Lithium Project reflects Piedmont’s
confidence in development of Ghana assets
- Ewoyaa development furthers Piedmont’s strategy to secure
feedstock for planned Tennessee conversion plant
Piedmont Lithium (“Piedmont” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PLL;
ASX: PLL), a leading global producer of lithium resources
critical to the U.S. electric vehicle supply chain, today announced
the Company will increase its stake in Atlantic Lithium Limited’s
(“Atlantic Lithium”) (AIM: ALL, ASX: A11) Ewoyaa Lithium Project
(“Ewoyaa” or the “Project”) as part of a staged investment
agreement to earn a 50% equity interest in Atlantic Lithium’s
Ghanaian lithium portfolio.
Under the terms of the project agreement with Atlantic Lithium,
Piedmont has exercised its option to acquire a 22.5% interest in
Ewoyaa, having funded the completion of the Project’s definitive
feasibility study (“DFS”). Piedmont also plans to provide a further
$70 million toward Ewoyaa development capital to acquire an
additional 27.5% interest in the Project. Piedmont expects to share
the remaining Project capital costs equally with Atlantic Lithium
for a total Piedmont commitment of approximately $128 million
toward the total estimated $185 million Project capital costs.
The Company’s additional funding remains subject to the receipt
of final government and regulatory approvals for the Project.
Piedmont expects to be able to fund its contributions toward
Project development through proceeds from the sale of lithium
concentrate from its offtake agreement with North American
Lithium.
The Company is entitled to purchase 50% of lithium concentrate
production at Ewoyaa on a market-based pricing mechanism for the
life of the mine. This offtake is being planned as feedstock for
the Company’s proposed, 30,000-metric-ton-per-year lithium
hydroxide conversion facility in Tennessee.
Piedmont President and CEO Keith Phillips said the funding to
support Ewoyaa furthers the Company’s strategy to supply crucial
lithium resources to U.S. electric vehicle and battery
manufacturers. “We are pleased to help advance the progression of
Ewoyaa as a key part of Piedmont Lithium’s global portfolio and the
expected feedstock for our planned lithium hydroxide conversion
facility in Tennessee,” said Phillips. “Our partners at Atlantic
Lithium have made tremendous progress with positive Project
economics recently published in a definitive feasibility study and
minerals lease discussions that are progressing with Ghana’s
Minerals Commission. We look forward to continuing our work with
Atlantic Lithium to support the Project toward first production,
currently targeted for 2025.”
About Piedmont Lithium
Piedmont Lithium (Nasdaq: PLL; ASX: PLL) is developing a
world-class, multi-asset, integrated lithium business focused on
enabling the transition to a net zero world and the creation of a
clean energy economy in North America. Our goal is to become one of
the largest lithium hydroxide producers in North America by
processing spodumene concentrate produced from assets where we hold
an economic interest. Our projects include our Carolina Lithium and
Tennessee Lithium projects in the United States and partnerships in
Quebec with Sayona Mining (ASX: SYA) and in Ghana with Atlantic
Lithium (AIM: ALL; ASX: A11). These geographically diversified
operations will enable us to play a pivotal role in supporting
America’s move toward energy independence and the electrification
of transportation and energy storage. For more information, follow
us on Twitter @PiedmontLithium and visit
www.piedmontlithium.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of or as described in securities legislation in the
United States and Australia, including statements regarding
exploration, development construction and production activities of
Sayona Mining, Atlantic Lithium and Piedmont; current plans for
Piedmont’s mineral and chemical processing projects; Piedmont’s
potential acquisition of an ownership interest in Ewoyaa; and
strategy. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial and
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other risk factors,
many of which are beyond our control, and which may cause actual
timing of events, results, performance or achievements and other
factors to be materially different from the future timing of
events, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied
by the forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among
others: (i) that Piedmont, Sayona Mining or Atlantic Lithium may be
unable to commercially extract mineral deposits, (ii) that
Piedmont’s, Sayona Mining’s or Atlantic Lithium’s properties may
not contain expected reserves, (iii) risks and hazards inherent in
the mining business (including risks inherent in exploring,
developing, constructing and operating mining projects,
environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or
geologically related conditions), (iv) uncertainty about Piedmont’s
ability to obtain required capital to execute its business plan,
(v) Piedmont’s ability to hire and retain required personnel, (vi)
changes in the market prices of lithium and lithium products, (vii)
changes in technology or the development of substitute products,
(viii) the uncertainties inherent in exploratory, developmental and
production activities, including risks relating to permitting,
zoning and regulatory delays related to our projects as well as the
projects of our partners in Quebec and Ghana, (ix) uncertainties
inherent in the estimation of lithium resources, (x) risks related
to competition, (xi) risks related to the information, data and
projections related to Sayona Mining or Atlantic Lithium, (xii)
occurrences and outcomes of claims, litigation and regulatory
actions, investigations and proceedings, (xiii) risks regarding our
ability to achieve profitability, enter into and deliver product
under supply agreements on favorable terms, our ability to obtain
sufficient financing to develop and construct our projects, our
ability to comply with governmental regulations and our ability to
obtain necessary permits, and (xiv) other uncertainties and risk
factors set out in filings made from time to time with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Australian
Securities Exchange, including Piedmont’s most recent filings with
the SEC. The forward-looking statements, projections and estimates
are given only as of the date of this press release and actual
events, results, performance and achievements could vary
significantly from the forward-looking statements, projections and
estimates presented in this press release. Readers are cautioned
not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Piedmont
disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such
forward-looking statements, projections, and estimates, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Additionally, Piedmont, except as required by applicable law,
undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or
statements made by third parties in respect of Piedmont, its
financial or operating results or its securities.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230817818997/en/
For further information, contact: Erin Sanders SVP, Corporate
Communications & Investor Relations T: +1 704 575 2549 E:
esanders@piedmontlithium.com Christian Healy/Jeff Siegel Media
Inquiries E: Christian@dlpr.com E: Jeff@dlpr.com
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