Piedmont Lithium will establish a lithium hydroxide processing, refining and manufacturing facility in Piedmont, Tennessee. The $582 million project is expected to create 117 jobs in McMinn County.

The plant will be located at the North Etowah Industrial Park, a CSX and Select Tennessee Certified Site. The facility will utilize more environmentally responsible and economic processing technology, supporting Piedmont’s objective of becoming a large, low-cost, sustainable producer of lithium products, according to company officials.

“We are excited to announce the site of our newest project and partnership with the City of Etowah, McMinn County and the State of Tennessee as we advance our strategic goal of becoming a leading lithium supplier to the U.S. We are humbled by the warm welcome we have received from our new partners, and we look forward to making Piedmont an integral part of the Etowah and McMinn County communities as we develop Tennessee Lithium together for our mutual success,” Keith Phillips, CEO and president, Piedmont Lithium said.

Founded and headquartered in Belmont, North Carolina, Piedmont is a battery-grade lithium hydroxide producer whose U.S. investments also include the Carolina Lithium project, a proposed integrated operation located in the world-class Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt.

“Centrally located within the southern automotive corridor, Tennessee continues to attract companies in the electric vehicle industry. We believe McMinn County will be the ideal location to support Piedmont‘s growth and success and appreciate this company’s significant investment in rural Tennessee. Thank you to the local community and our partners at CSX for their support in making this win a reality,” TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter explained.

Piedmont Lithium’s North Carolina and Tennessee operations, along with its equity interests in international projects, will help establish North America as a key global producer of lithium hydroxide.