Sayona Mining and Piedmont Lithium Successfully Restart North American Lithium Mine, Canada
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North American lithium producer Sayona Mining Limited and Piedmont Lithium have successfully restarted commercial spodumene concentrate production at the jointly-owned North American Lithium (NAL) project in Quebec. The US$80 million restart of NAL was completed on time and on budget and is the only major source of new spodumene production expected in North America in the next two years. Sayona is targeting 226,000 metric tons per year of annual production with first commercial shipments expected in Q3 2023.
“Since announcing our restart intentions in 2021, our project team has maintained a forward-looking focus to improve lithium capture, achieve more consistent runtimes, and streamline operating costs from the past-producing operation. Improvements were made as planned in our timeline and budget, and we are eager to see the impact the upgrades bring to both product quality and operational efficiency as we prepare for our first commercial shipments of spodumene concentrate expected in July of this year,” said Sayona’s Managing Director Brett Lynch.
“We applaud the work of the operating team in bringing the restart of NAL to fruition. This marks an exciting milestone not only for Piedmont Lithium and Sayona Mining, but the North American market for which we are working to supply critical lithium resources. NAL is positioned to be a key contributor to the electric vehicle and battery supply chains as demand for lithium continues to rapidly expand along with the electrification economies in both Canada and the U.S.,” said Piedmont’s President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Phillips.
NAL is one of three projects of Sayona Quebec, a joint venture between Sayona (75 percent) and Piedmont (25 percent). Sayona is targeting four shipments from NAL totaling up to 120,000 metric tons by the end of 2023, which are expected to supply key battery and electric vehicle manufacturers, including LG Chem and Tesla.
Powered by renewable hydroelectricity, NAL is ideally located in the Abitibi region of Quebec with convenient access to rail, highway, and port infrastructure to bring lithium concentrate to the market.
A prefeasibility study (PFS) is currently underway to evaluate downstream production at NAL through the completion of the project’s lithium carbonate plant, which was partially constructed by prior owners of the operation. Results of the PFS are expected in H1 2023. Further evaluation of downstream production of lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide in Quebec may follow the PFS study.
About Sayona Mining
Sayona Mining Limited is an emerging lithium producer with projects in Québec, Canada and Western Australia. In Québec, Sayona’s assets comprise North American Lithium together with the Authier Lithium Project and its emerging Tansim Lithium Project, supported by a strategic partnership with American lithium developer Piedmont Lithium. The company also holds a 60 percent stake in the Moblan Lithium Project in northern Québec. In Western Australia, the company holds a large tenement portfolio in the Pilbara region prospective for gold and lithium. Sayona is exploring for Hemi‐style gold targets in the world‐class Pilbara region, while its lithium projects are subject to an earn‐in agreement with Morella Corporation.
To stop by Sayona’s website, CLICK HERE
About Piedmont Lithium
Piedmont Lithium 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. Its goal is to become one of the largest lithium hydroxide producers in North America by processing spodumene concentrate produced from assets where they hold an economic interest. Their projects include Its wholly-owned Carolina Lithium and Tennessee Lithium projects in the United States and partnerships in Quebec with Sayona Mining and in Ghana with Atlantic Lithium. These geographically diversified operations will enable Piedmont to play a pivotal role in supporting America’s move toward decarbonization and the electrification of transportation and energy storage.
To stop by Piedmont’s website, CLICK HERE
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