Albemarle Gathers Stakeholders to Hear Insights, Highlight Cooperation

March 5, 2025

Responsible mining, watershed protection and a desire for collaboration brought together Albemarle leaders and representatives from more than a dozen nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for the company’s second-annual NGO Summit in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.

Set at the site of the Kings Mountain Mine, the event demonstrated Albemarle’s global commitment to community involvement and transparency on a local level. But the values that drive Albemarle’s stakeholder engagement are at the foundation of the company’s operations around the world.

“Having ongoing conversations about our industry and our environment is important, but a summit like this is special for the opportunity to do this together in one place,” says Karen Shulman, Albemarle’s senior manager for sustainability. “We are eager to share our story and hear from others who also care about building a more resilient world.” 

Representatives from 14 NGOs with local, national and international ties attended either in person or virtually. This year’s summit took a deeper dive into the proposed plan to redevelop the Kings Mountain Mine, and participants had the opportunity to tour the mine site.

Shulman and Albemarle’s Resource Development Manager Scott Hutchins led a session on the company’s sustainability goals and responsible mining practices. The conversation expanded to include broader ideas, such as how automakers’ emissions targets are driving positive environmental pressure farther up the supply chain.  

Attendees also wanted to know more about innovative ways to maximize resource efficiency through circular economy principles, such as Albemarle’s agreement with Martin Marietta's nearby quarry regarding mined material that can be sold as construction aggregate.  

"I was grateful to see Albermarle's deep commitment to building genuine community ties and to responsible mining practices, including an awareness of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) standards," said Richard Juang of Ceres, a national sustainability-focused NGO, who attended the summit. “I have every hope that Kings Mountain will be both a model for sustainable domestic mining, as well as a part of ensuring the security and stability of our nation's critical minerals supply chain."

Watershed protection and water conservation also were key topics, with several of the participating organizations focused on natural resources. Albemarle hydrologist Joey Dean shared how the Kings Mountain Mine project is being designed to capture and reuse rainwater that would enable the Kings Mountain Mine to have a positive water balance. This means the project is not expected to result in net water loss from the watershed.

John Seary, executive director of the Catawba Riverkeeper said the company’s best practices could serve as the standard for lithium mining in North Carolina.

Through formal feedback initiatives, such as the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, as well as informal collaboration with a variety of groups, Albemarle has sought input and cooperation with stakeholders.

The importance of collaboration stood out with a variety of examples, including a publicly available policy and project tracker developed by E2, a national, nonpartisan group that advocates for smart policies for the economy and the environment.  

“This is a valuable tool for tracking major investments, from mining all the way to manufacturers,” said Rob Whedon, Albemarle’s external affairs director. “It shows what’s possible when industry, NGOs and communities work together in ways that benefit everyone.”