The study will evaluate potential completion and restart of the lithium carbonate plant at NAL. The operations at NAL feature about 50% of the facilities needed to produce lithium carbonate, which were partially constructed by prior owners of the NAL operation. Sayona Quebec expects results of the PFS in 1H23. Further evaluation of the production of lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide in Quebec may follow completion of the PFS study.
President and CEO of Piedmont Lithium Keith Phillips said:
"Exploring opportunities to produce lithium chemicals in Quebec is an extension of the efforts already underway at NAL."
"Evaluating the completion of the lithium carbonate facilities at NAL is a logical next step in our long-term plans for Quebec. In the near term, we continue to focus with our partners at Sayona on restart of spodumene concentrate production at NAL within 1H23.”
“Commercial shipments of spodumene concentrate could begin as early as 3Q23, providing revenue generation from NAL as well as product sales through Piedmont’s off-take agreement.”
In September, Sayona Quebec announced that plans to restart spodumene concentrate production at NAL were on track with permitting and procurement of equipment well advanced and with most major items required for the NAL restart already on-site. A major mining contract was awarded to Fournier et Fils for the operation of the NAL open pit for a four-year term.