KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. — Everyday rechargeable items, from cell phones to electric vehicles to life-saving devices like pacemakers, need lithium-ion batteries to operate. Albemarle Corporation, the largest producer of lithium in the country, is looking at expanding the supply of this critical mineral here in the U.S.
The company has its eyes set on Kings Mountain, a site well known for its lithium resource.
Kings Mountain is a mining town, and it produces tin and gold along with lithium. The lithium mining site was operational until the late 1980s; it shut down because the demand for lithium was not there at the time.
But that has changed with the times. Albemarle Corporation acquired the mining site in 2015 and is now looking to get it active again. Ellen Lenny-Pessagano, the company's global vice president for external affairs and sustainability, says while the demand is especially great for electric car production, she said it's about more than the newest set of wheels.
“I hope you think about your phone, I hope you think about your computers, anything that is portable that was not portable 20 years ago. It’s thanks to those lithium batteries,” she said during a tour of the mining site on Tuesday.
As technology grows, so does the need for lithium. Right now, the U.S. relies on China for most of its lithium battery chain. Albemarle Corporation is hoping to grow its own battery ecosystem across the country, with North Carolina as part of the plan. That includes offices in Charlotte and in Kings Mountain.
The company said it has seen tremendous growth. In the last three years, Albemarle Corporation reports an increase in the number of employees across both offices by over 85% with just over 1,100 employees.
Now, the company is in the development studies phase of the project looking to see how restating mining production at Kings Mountain would impact the community. Crews are doing detailed economic evaluations, noise assessments, and even studying how it would impact transportation. There are also steps for permitting, a critical step in the project and one that could take several months, maybe years. It all boils down to one question: is mining at the Kings Mountain site feasible?
If it is feasible, then construction of the mine and operations would be next.
“The first step is dewatering the pit which will take about 18 months,” said Cindy Estridge, a community affairs specialist for Albemarle Corporation. “Once the water is out then begins construction of the mine.”
If the project moves forward, the site is expected to have enough lithium deposits to manufacture about 1.2 million electric vehicles annually.
Albemarle Corporation is looking at all phases of the mining lifecycle, and Estridge said the end of the project is just as important. The company is already working with the community and gaining feedback to hear what they would like to see happen to the space once the mining is complete.
“They would love a water feature, they would love to have trails. We have heard camping areas,” said Estridge. “Predominately outdoor areas.”
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.