- Piedmont shipped approximately 31,500 dmt of spodumene
concentrate in Q3’24; targets 55,000 dmt in Q4
- Record quarterly production of 52,141 dmt, up 5% from Q2’24 as
NAL continues to increase production
- NAL achieved mill utilization of 91% and lithium recovery of
67% in Q3’24
- Incident-free safety performance records achieved at NAL in
September 2024
Piedmont Lithium (“Piedmont” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:PLL;
ASX: PLL), a leading North American supplier of lithium
products critical to the U.S. electric vehicle supply chain,
announced that it shipped approximately 31,500 dry metric tons
(“dmt”) of spodumene concentrate in Q3’24 as its jointly owned
North American Lithium (“NAL”) achieved new quarterly production
and operational performance records.1 NAL, North America’s largest
producing spodumene mine, is jointly owned by Piedmont (25%) and
Sayona Mining Limited (75%) (ASX: SYA).
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the full release here:
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Figure 1: NAL Concentrate Production
(Graphic: Business Wire)
In response to a customer request, the Company will shift a
planned cargo from Q4’24 to early Q1’25. As a result, Piedmont is
targeting shipments of approximately 55,000 dmt of spodumene
concentrate in Q4 for total 2024 shipments of approximately 116,000
dmt. While this single cargo push into early 2025 will cause a
nominal adjustment from our prior guidance of 126,000 dmt for 2024,
we expect this shift to be accretive to our 2025 shipments totals
and does not impact Piedmont’s total offtake quantities at
NAL.2
Q3’24 Operational Results Summary
Piedmont Lithium
Units
Q3’24
Q2’24
QoQ Variance
2024 YTD
2023 YTD
YoY Variance
Concentrate Shipped
kt dmt
31.5
15.5
125%
60.9
29.0
110%
Average Grade
% Li2O
~5.4%
~5.5%
(0.1%)
~5.5%
~5.4%
0.1%
NAL1
Units
Q3’24
Q2’24
QoQ Variance
2024 YTD
2023 YTD
YoY Variance
Ore Mined
kt wmt
240.3
233.7
3%
825.1
562.8
47%
Concentrate Produced
kt dmt
52.1
49.7
5%
142.2
64.6
120%
Plant (Mill) Utilization
%
91%
83%
8%
82%
65%
13%
Lithium Recovery
%
67%
68%
(1%)
67%
57%
10%
Concentrate Shipped
kt dmt
49.0
27.7
77%
134.8
48.2
180%
In Q3’24, NAL produced 52,141 dmt and shipped 48,992 dmt, of
which approximately 31,500 dmt of spodumene concentrate were sold
to Piedmont and shipped to Company customers.
NAL increased quarterly production by 5% in Q3’24 compared to
the prior quarter. Mill utilization achieved a record high of 91%
for the quarter benefitting from the availability of the recently
completed crushed ore dome. The increased utilization rate also
drove an improvement in unit operating costs, which declined by 15%
quarter-over-quarter when excluding the impact of inventory
movements. Recoveries dipped marginally in the quarter due to a
slight reduction in feed grade and increased use of the WHIMS
magnetic separators. Importantly, in September 2024, NAL reported
its first incident-free safety month since the restart of
operations in 2023 with no lost time injuries, no modified duty
injuries, and no medical aid injuries.
“We are pleased to see the benefits from investments made at NAL
during the last quarter, with the increase in quarterly production
cementing NAL’s status as the largest spodumene producing mine in
North America,” said Keith Phillips, President and CEO of Piedmont
Lithium. “Operational performance continues to improve on a
quarterly basis and Sayona’s recent announcement of the increase to
the Mineral Resource Estimate lays the foundation for a potential
growth at NAL in the future.”
1 All references to information about or related to NAL are from
the September 2024 Quarterly Activities Report filed with the ASX
by Sayona Mining Limited on 24 October 2024. 2 The timing of
shipments is subject to shipping logistics, port and weather
conditions, and customer requirements.
About Piedmont Lithium
Piedmont Lithium Inc. (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
project in the United States and partnerships in Quebec with Sayona
Mining (ASX: SYA) and in Ghana with Atlantic Lithium (AIM: ALL;
ASX: A11). We believe these geographically diversified operations
help 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.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors
Piedmont’s public disclosures are governed by the U.S. Exchange
Act of 1934, including Regulation S-K 1300 thereunder, whereas NAL
discloses estimates of “measured,” “indicated,” and “inferred”
mineral resources as such terms are used in the JORC Code and
Canada’s National Instrument 43-101. Although S-K 1300, the JORC
Code, and NI 43-101 have similar goals in terms of conveying an
appropriate level of confidence in the disclosures being reported,
they at times embody different approaches or definitions.
Consequently, investors are cautioned that public disclosures by
NAL prepared in accordance with the JORC Code or NI 43-101 may not
be comparable to similar information made public by companies,
including Piedmont, subject to S-K 1300 and the other reporting and
disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and
the rules and regulations thereunder.
The statements in the link below were prepared by, and made by,
NAL. The following disclosures are not statements of Piedmont and
have not been independently verified by Piedmont. NAL is not
subject to U.S. reporting requirements or obligations, and
investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these
statements. NAL’s original announcements can be found here.
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, production, and ramp up
activities or the timing of these activities, of Sayona Mining,
Atlantic Lithium and Piedmont, including regarding operating cost
improvements, regulatory approvals or permits or the timing
thereof, project spend, timing of completion of capital projects
and the effects of such projects, timing of planned deliveries and
ability to improve productivity; current plans for Piedmont’s
mineral and chemical processing projects; Piedmont’s potential
acquisition of an ownership interest in Ewoyaa, including financing
options, the timing of final investment decisions and project
spend; strategy; market cycles; lithium prices; equity values;
costs of new project developments; lithium shortages; lithium
market recovery; certain Company approvals, permitting, partnering
and debt funding discussions; a recently completed workforce
reduction; expense management and possible or assumed future
financial results or financial condition. 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, (xiv) our ability to deliver on our
expense management efforts and other cost improvements expected
upon completion of key capital projects as well as our future cash
payments associated with these initiatives and potential future
impairment charges, and (xv) 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.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241028917492/en/
Erin Sanders SVP, Corporate Communications & Investor
Relations T: +1 704 575 2549 E: esanders@piedmontlithium.com
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