Albemarle Corp.

International mining company Albemarle is reopening the Kings Mountain lithium mine. The plan is to extract the minerals to use in batteries for electric vehicles and standalone systems. But the company is struggling to turn a profit as lithium prices drop.

A foul odor plagued the city of Kings Mountain this winter as cold weather unearthed a long-submerged gas. Mining company Albemarle began monitoring the emissions in mid-January and reported the results to the state.

Albemarle is working to reopen the old Kings Mountain lithium mine, but a mysterious and offensive odor has some locals raising their eyebrows and wrinkling their noses at the project.

The international mining company invited neighbors of the long-dormant mine to learn about the mining process and ask questions about its environmental and social impacts.

Facing a slowdown in the electric vehicle market and slumping lithium prices, Charlotte-based Albemarle Corp. announced plans to slash costs. Albemarle has been working to reopen a lithium mine in Kings Mountain, as well as a new lithium processing plant in Richburg, S.C., and a research center in Charlotte. The processing plant and the Charlotte research center are now on hold.

North Carolina is at the center of the global lithium empire that Charlotte-based Albemarle is building. It wants to lead the development of a U.S. supply chain to satisfy growing demand for lithium for batteries to power everything from electric vehicles to mobile phones and laptops.

North Carolina's revival as a major source of lithium will take another step forward early next year. Albemarle Corp. expects to obtain permits and begin draining water in the next few months from the 168-foot deep lake at the former mine off I-85 in Kings Mountain.

Charlotte-based Albemarle Corp. has agreed to pay $218 million to settle federal allegations that the company bribed government officials in several countries.

Charlotte-based Albemarle Corp. is taking steps to make its planned lithium mine in Kings Mountain climate-friendly. The company announced a deal Wednesday to supply Caterpillar with lithium for electric vehicles. Caterpillar will provide battery-powered mining equipment to Albemarle.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited North Carolina Monday to begin a four-state Southeast tour to promote the Biden administration's climate policies, clean energy investments and new jobs.