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2020

Piedmont Lithium – March 2020 Quarterly Report

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NEW YORK – Piedmont Lithium Limited (ASX:PLL; NASDAQ:PLL) (“Piedmont” or “Company”) is pleased to present its March 2020 quarterly report. Highlights during and subsequent to the quarter were:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005180/en/

Piedmont Lithium's Hydroxide Chemical Plant located in Kings Mountain, NC (Graphic: Business Wire)

Piedmont Lithium’s Hydroxide Chemical Plant located in Kings Mountain, NC (Graphic: Business Wire)

  • Hatch continues to progress its work on the chemical plant pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) for the Company’s Piedmont Lithium Project (“Project”) in the United States and remains on track for delivery in Q2 2020. The chemical plant PFS will provide refined estimates of our capital and operating costs and should reinforce our position as a low-cost US-based producer of lithium hydroxide.
  • Lithium hydroxide testwork on samples of spodumene concentrate produced from the Project’s ore is progressing SGS laboratories in Canada. Work has been delayed due to impacts related to COVID-19, however the delay is not expected to impact our overall development timeline. The final process flowsheet has been determined samples will soon be ready for delivery to prospective customers.
  • Chemical plant permitting activities continue, with background studies to be used in the chemical plant permit applications proceeding on schedule. We plan to submit these permit applications shortly after completion of the chemical plant PFS and expect to receive these permits by the end of 2020.
  • Continued numerous preliminary off-take, financing and strategic conversations, including companies from the lithium, mining, chemicals, battery, automotive and private equity sectors.
  • Soil and rock chip sampling at the Project in North Carolina, United States, led to the discovery of five new spodumene-bearing pegmatites in areas that have not previously been explored.
  • Assays from the final 19 drill holes of the Phase 4 drilling program at the Project’s Central and Core properties intersected significant mineralization, including 36.0m @ 1.11% Li2O and 44.9m @ 1.30% Li2O in Hole 19-CT-19, 13.0m @ 1.28% Li2O and 7.3m @ 1.37% Li2O in Hole 19-CT-26, and 14.8m @ 1.55% Li2O and 12.4m @ 1.02% Li2O in Hole 19-BD-332.

Next steps:

  • Complete the chemical plant PFS and a fully integrated Scoping Study Update in Q2 2020.
  • Finalize the bench scale lithium hydroxide testwork program and produce initial product samples in Q2 2020.
  • Submit key chemical plant permit applications including a synthetic minor source air permit application.
  • Build out project construction and sales & marketing teams.
  • Continue offtake discussions for lithium hydroxide and by-product quartz, feldspar and mica.
  • Continue to evaluate strategic partnering options.

To view the full ASX Announcement, click here.

Keith D. Phillips | President & CEO

+1 973 809 0505

kphillips@piedmontlithium.com

A message from Piedmont Lithium’s CEO, Keith D. Phillips

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NEW YORK –
Piedmont Lithium Limited (ASX: PLL; Nasdaq: PLL):

March 18, 2020

Dear Shareholders and Friends,

In this time of market volatility surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, I wanted to provide a brief update on current activities at Piedmont Lithium Limited (“Piedmont”) as well as our plans going forward.

First and foremost, we are focused on the safety of our employees, consultants and advisors. Non-essential travel has been eliminated and in-person meetings have been curtailed given the social distancing that most groups are observing. As a development stage company, we often work remotely in the normal course, and we have formalized that approach for the time being with little impact on productivity.

Our current focus is on three areas, each of which is progressing well:

  • Lithium hydroxide testwork. Hydroxide testwork is nearing completion at SGS in Lakefield, Ontario. As reported on February 25, 2020, we have completed 9 of the 10 steps with positive results. The final crystallization steps are under way but will take longer than planned due to some remote working practices being implemented at the SGS laboratory. We do not expect this extended completion of testwork to have an impact on our other activities.
  • Chemical plant prefeasibility study. Hatch is progressing its work on the chemical plant pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) and remains on track for delivery in Q2 2020. The chemical plant PFS will provide refined estimates of our capital and operating costs and should reinforce our position as a low-cost US-based producer of lithium hydroxide.
  • Chemical plant permitting activities. Background studies to be used in the chemical plant permit applications are ongoing and proceeding on schedule. We still plan to submit these permit applications shortly after completion of the chemical plant PFS and expect to receive these permits during 2020.

Each of these three activities is of critical importance, and each is well advanced. Our plan remains to complete these three significant de-risking steps and then evaluate market conditions before accelerating toward completion of a definitive feasibility study.

We take great comfort in our strong financial position and will be prudent in maintaining that through this market dislocation. We completed a large equity financing in July 2019 with strong institutional support and have a very strong cash position (US$11.4 million / A$18.4 million at December 31, 2019), as well as a modest monthly cash burn rate.

I would like to make a final comment on lithium market dynamics. While uncertainly exists with respect to the duration of the current economic slowdown, it is increasingly clear that the future is bright for the lithium business, particularly in the United States. Some recent market developments are worth highlighting:

  • European electric vehicle (“EV”) sales were up strongly in February, including growth of +200% in the UK and France;
  • General Motors announced a $20 billion investment in electrification, including unveiling their Ultium batteries to be produced in joint venture with LG Chemical and expected to drive battery cell costs below $100/kWh;
  • Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar are all reported to be having difficulty securing battery supplies;
  • Progress continues on next generation batteries expected to contain substantially more lithium, particularly in the anode and electrolyte; and
  • Shutdowns associated with the coronavirus have made increasingly clear the merits of local supply sources. China currently produces roughly 80% of the world’s lithium hydroxide, highlighting the strategic advantage of our unique location in the USA’s ‘auto alley’.

In short, the future of Piedmont is bright and we anticipate positive developments in coming weeks and months. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at kphillips@piedmontlithium.com if you would like to learn more. In the interim, stay safe!

Yours sincerely,

Keith D. Phillips

President & CEO

About Piedmont Lithium

Piedmont Lithium Limited (ASX: PLL; Nasdaq: PLL) holds a 100% interest in the Piedmont Lithium Project (“Project”) located within the world-class Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt (“TSB”) and along trend to the Hallman Beam and Kings Mountain mines, historically providing most of the western world’s lithium between the 1950s and the 1980s. The TSB has been described as one of the largest lithium provinces in the world and is located approximately 25 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a premier location for development of an integrated lithium business based on its favorable geology, spodumene-only mineralogy, proven metallurgy and easy access to infrastructure, power, R&D centers for lithium and battery storage, major high-tech population centers and downstream lithium processing facilities.

Forward Looking Statements

This announcement may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Piedmont’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Piedmont, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Piedmont makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this announcement, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that announcement.

This announcement has been authorized for release by Piedmont’s President & CEO, Keith D. Phillips.

For further information:

Keith D. Phillips

President & CEO

T: +1 973 809 0505

E: kphillips@piedmontlithium.com

Timothy McKenna

Investor and Government Relations

T: +1 732 331 6457

E: tmckenna@piedmontlithium.com

Results of General Meeting

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Piedmont Lithium Limited (ASX: PLL; NASDAQ: PLL) (“Piedmont” or “Company”) advises that a general meeting of shareholders (“Meeting”) was held today, March 18, 2020, at 10.00am (WST).

The resolutions voted on were in accordance with the Notice of General Meeting previously advised to the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”).

All resolutions were decided on and carried by way of a poll.

In accordance with Section 251AA of the Corporations Act 2001, the details of the poll and the proxies received in respect of each resolution are set out in the attached summary.

Hydroxide Testwork Program Proceeding Favorably

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  • Lithium hydroxide testwork at SGS Lakefield is on schedule and proceeding well
  • Delivery of hydroxide samples to prospective offtake partners will commence upon program completion
  • Optimized flowsheet to underpin Chemical Plant PFS targeted for Q2 2020

NEW YORK – Piedmont Lithium Limited (“Piedmont” or “Company”) is pleased to provide an update on the metallurgical testwork program underway at SGS Labs (“SGS”) in Lakefield, Ontario. The Company remains on schedule to announce results of this bench-scale program and to produce lithium hydroxide (“LiOH”) samples for delivery to prospective offtake partners in advance of PFS completion. The optimized flowsheet developed during this testwork will serve as the basis of the Chemical plant prefeasibility study (“PFS”) to be completed in Q2 2020.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200226005181/en/

Spodumene calcination and roasting (from left to right) - (top) pilot kiln, calcined product, milled beta spodumene (bottom) beta spodumene after mixing, beta spodumene after roasting (Photo: Business Wire)

Spodumene calcination and roasting (from left to right) – (top) pilot kiln, calcined product, milled beta spodumene (bottom) beta spodumene after mixing, beta spodumene after roasting (Photo: Business Wire)

SGS is advancing a lithium conversion testwork program using a ‘direct-to-hydroxide’ approach developed in collaboration with Piedmont Lithium personnel and engineering consultants Hatch and Primero Group. Piedmont previously announced outstanding PFS-level metallurgical results for the production of spodumene concentrate (see press release dated July 16, 2019). The concentrate produced during that program and other spodumene concentrate produced from the same composite sample is now being used by SGS for the ongoing bench-scale lithium hydroxide testwork.

Optimization tests on bench scale samples have been completed for calcination, roasting, water leach, primary and secondary impurity removal, and filtration. Ion exchange tests have been completed. Work completed to date represents approximately 90% of the steps in the bench scale testwork program, with multi-stage lithium hydroxide crystallization and final assay results expected in coming weeks.

Following production of initial samples, the Company will undertake additional conversion tests using optimized test conditions to demonstrate repeatability of product quality and confirm flowsheet design.

Upon completion of the testwork program the Company will be in a position to share lithium hydroxide samples with prospective offtake partners. Our dialogues with prospective customers have been advancing well, and these samples will provide the first opportunity for customers to assess the quality of the material we expect to produce.

Keith D. Phillips, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are very encouraged by the positive results generated thus far in the lithium hydroxide testwork program, and expect the final results to be announced in the near future. The optimization tests performed by SGS will allow us to refine the proposed Chemical Plant flowsheet and will underpin the prefeasibility study targeted for completion in Q2 2020. Completion of the PFS, along with continued advances on the permitting and offtake fronts, position us to advance our Project to shovel-ready status by the end of the year, well-timed for the recovery in lithium prices and market sentiment that many observers are forecasting for the remainder of this year.”

Click here to view the full ASX Announcement.

For further information:

Keith D. Phillips

President & CEO

T: +1 973 809 0505

E: kphillips@piedmontlithium.com

Timothy McKenna

Investor and Government Relations

T: +1 732 331 6457

E: tmckenna@piedmontlithium.com

Piedmont Lithium December 2019 Quarterly Report

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NEW YORK – Piedmont Lithium Limited (ASX: PLL; NASDAQ: PLL) (“Piedmont” or “Company”) is pleased to present its December 2019 quarterly report. Highlights during and subsequent to the quarter were:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200130005206/en/

Figure 1: Piedmont Lithium Project located within the TSB (Photo: Business Wire)

Figure 1: Piedmont Lithium Project located within the TSB (Photo: Business Wire)

  • Completed federal permitting required to develop the proposed mine and concentrator at the Company’s Piedmont Lithium Project (“Project”) in North Carolina, United States, following receipt of a Clean Water Act Section 404 Standard Individual Permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”);
  • Appointed Hatch to deliver a pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) for the Company’s proposed lithium hydroxide chemical plant in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, United States. Hatch is a global leader in the development of lithium conversion projects and will utilize its experienced lithium staff to complete the PFS by mid-2020. Primero and Marshall Miller are continuing their work on the proposed mine and concentrator at the Project;
  • In response to strong interest from prospective lithium hydroxide customers, the Company is accelerating the development of its lithium chemical plant by compressing its project timeline into a single-stage, effectively accelerating chemical plant development by one year while deferring the mine and concentrator construction start date by one year, resulting in integrated operations from day one;
  • Completed the Company’s Phase 4 drill program, which comprised 113 holes for a total of 18,393 meters. The Phase 4 drill program was successful in expanding the Project’s mine life from 13 to 25 years (as reported in the expanded Scoping Study published in August 2019);
  • Assays from the final 19 drill holes of the Phase 4 drilling program at our Central and Core properties intersected significant mineralization, including 36.0m @ 1.11% Li2O and 44.9m @ 1.30% Li2O in Hole 19-CT-19, 13.0m @ 1.28% Li2O and 7.3m @ 1.37% Li2O in Hole 19-CT-26, and 14.8m @ 1.55% Li2O and 12.4m @ 1.02% Li2O in Hole 19-BD-332;
  • Soil and rock chip sampling led to the discovery of five new spodumene-bearing pegmatites in areas that have not previously been explored;
  • Commenced permitting for the proposed lithium hydroxide chemical plant;
  • Entered into a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) with Ion Carbon & Minerals, LLC (“Ion”) to partner to market the quartz, feldspar, and mica produced at the Project. Ion is wholly owned by the AMCI Group, a leading specialist natural resources investor and marketer with a long-standing track record of success across a broad range of commodities; and
  • Continued numerous preliminary off-take, financing and strategic conversations, including companies from the lithium, mining, chemicals, battery, automotive and private equity sectors.
  • Mr Anastasios (Taso) Arima will step down as Executive Director of the Company, effective from January 31, 2020, to focus on his other business interests. Mr Arima will remain as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

Next steps:

  • Complete the PFS for the chemical plant in Q2 2020;
  • Finalize the bench scale lithium hydroxide testwork program and produce initial product samples;
  • Continue offtake discussions for lithium hydroxide with participants in the global battery supply chain; and
  • Continue to evaluate strategic partnering options.

Click here to view the full ASX Announcement.

Keith D. Phillips | President & CEO

T: +1 973 809 0505

E: kphillips@piedmontlithium.com

Piedmont Reports New Spodumene Pegmatite Discoveries and Final Phase 4 Drill Results

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  • Piedmont has completed the final 19 drill holes of its Phase 4 drilling program, comprising 12 holes at our Central property and 7 holes at our Core property
  • 10 of the 12 holes drilled on the Central property intersected significant mineralization, including:
    • 36.0m @ 1.11% Li2O from 15m and 44.9m @ 1.30% Li2O from 72m in Hole 19-CT-19
    • 13.0m @ 1.28% Li2O from 169m and 7.3m @ 1.37% Li2O from 203m in Hole 19-CT-26
  • 6 of the 7 holes drilled on the Core property intersected significant mineralization, including:
    • 14.8m @ 1.55% Li2O from 81m and 12.4m @ 1.02% Li2O from 35m in Hole 19-BD-332
    • 12.3m @ 1.55% Li2O from 69m, including 5.1m @ 2.13% Li2O from 76m in Hole 19-BD-333
  • Soil and rock chip sampling have led to the discovery of five new spodumene-bearing pegmatites
  • Recent x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis continues to confirm “spodumene-only” lithium mineralogy

 

NEW YORK – Piedmont Lithium Limited (“Piedmont” or “Company”) is pleased to announce drill results for the final 19 drill holes of the Phase 4 drill campaign completed on the Piedmont Lithium Project (“Project”) located within the world-class Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt (“TSB”) in North Carolina, USA (Figure 2). The drill results are from the Central and Core properties. Significant mineralization was encountered in 17 of the 19 holes reported.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200128005187/en/

Figure 1 - TSB Map showing Piedmont MRE, New Pegmatite Discoveries, and Historical Mines and Data (Graphic: Business Wire)

Figure 1 – TSB Map showing Piedmont MRE, New Pegmatite Discoveries, and Historical Mines and Data (Graphic: Business Wire)

The Phase 4 program comprised a total of 113 drill holes for 18,393 meters on both the Core and Central properties. 12 holes for 1,834 meters have been completed on the Central property (Figure 3) since an initial Mineral Resource estimate (“MRE”) was announced in April 2019. 7 holes totaling 820 meters have been completed at Core property (Figure 4) since announcing an updated MRE in June 2019. At both properties, the drilling was predominantly focused on Exploration Target areas.

These drill results continue to expand the extent of mineralization on both properties. At Central, mineralization has been extended laterally, to the southwest, and down dip. At the Core property, 5 of the 7 holes confirmed a significant new flat lying pegmatite in the southwest portion of the property.

Additionally, Piedmont has undertaken soil sampling over the past year which has proved to be a valuable exploration tool within the TSB. This year’s soil sampling program followed by rock chip sampling has led to the discovery of five new spodumene-bearing pegmatites on Piedmont exploration properties.

The regional data continues to highlight the overall size and continuity of the Carolina TSB and its importance as a domestic source for the critical element, lithium. Figure 1 shows a 25-mile portion of the Carolina TSB which hosts two historic mines, Piedmonts Lithium’s MRE, USGS Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS) spodumene/lithium occurrences and other areas of confirmed spodumene mineralization documented by Piedmont Lithium’s activities and regional mapping. After 70 years of history, the belt still has enormous exploration potential to add additional lithium resources.

Finally, recent XRD analysis from two composite samples, one from Core and one from Central, continue to identify spodumene as the only lithium bearing mineral identified.

Keith D. Phillips, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are excited by the continued positive news on the exploration front. In 2019 we increased our Mineral Resource Estimate from 16.2Mt @ 1.12% to 27.9Mt @ 1.11%, and we believe there is significant potential for further increases. The Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt is one of the world’s largest spodumene occurrences, and as we continue to build our land package and have exploration success, the potential for mine life extension or throughput expansion will be an important area of focus.”

Click here to view the full ASX Announcement.

For further information, please contact:

Keith D. Phillips

President & CEO

T: +1 973 809 0505

E: kphillips@piedmontlithium.com

Anastasios (Taso) Arima

Executive Director

T: +1 347 899 1522

E: tarima@piedmontlithium.com