Piedmont Lithium rolled out plans for a Gaston County lithium mine last July to the Gaston County commissioners..Residents turned out en masse in opposition. County commissioners were surprised to find out that Piedmont Lithium had been working on the project for five years, and had already spent millions on the project- all without the the county’s knowledge.
Piedmont has applied for a state mining permit, a process which is ongoing due to delays in lab testing. Should they get state approval, Piedmont would still need county approval, which would entail a rezoning of the 1500 acre site, and a special use permit.
In the meantime, Piedmont has announced plans to begin lithium production in Quebec in 2023, and Ghana in 2024.
