Piedmont Lithium Inc., a leading global developer of lithium resources critical to the U.S. electric vehicle (“EV”) supply chain, is aware of a recent report published by Blue Orca Capital ("Short Report"), which contains allegations in relation to Atlantic Lithium Limited’s ("Atlantic") lithium project in Ghana.
Piedmont notes that Atlantic has denied the allegations contained in the Short Report and outrightly refutes the allegations of impropriety made by the Short Report. Atlantic's response to the Short Report has now been released and is available on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Piedmont notes that Atlantic’s recent application for a Mining License for its lithium project in Ghana excludes the two licenses purchased as part of its acquisition of Joy Transporters Ltd referred to in the Short Report, which do not form part of Atlantic’s defined resources for its Ghana lithium project.
Piedmont has the right to purchase 50% of Atlantic’s production of spodumene concentrate from its Ghana lithium project, at market prices on a life-of-mine basis, and to earn a 50% interest in the Ghanaian projects. Piedmont currently contemplates utilizing spodumene concentrate from this offtake agreement as partial feed for its proposed Tennessee Lithium hydroxide plant. However, if for any reason Piedmont does not exercise its right to this offtake supply, the Company is confident that alternative sources of spodumene concentrate would be available to feed the Tennessee facility, as current and future spodumene producers seek to feed the growing U.S. electric vehicle market and qualify for the benefits available under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Piedmont also notes that the publisher of the Short Report discloses that it has a short interest in Piedmont's shares and therefore stands to realize significant gains from a decline in Piedmont's share price.
Atlantic and Piedmont will seek legal advice to address the claims made by the Report.
This announcement has been authorized for release by the Company's CEO, Keith Phillips.
