Sigma Lithium Resources Corporation (“Sigma” or the “Company”)
(TSX-V: SGMA) (OTC-QX SGMLF) is pleased to announce it has obtained
the required environmental licenses for both construction (“LP”)
and installation (“LI”) of its Lithium Commercial Production Plant
(“Plant”) from the environmental authority of the State of Minas
Gerais, the Council of Environmental Policy (“Conselho Estadual de
Politica Ambiental – COPAM”) in Brazil. COPAM has issued Sigma’s
Dual LP and LI Certificate for a period of six years expiring on
May 31, 2025.
Based on the design being considered under the ongoing
feasibility study (“DFS”), the Plant will have the capacity to
process 1.5 million metric tonnes of spodumene ore per year from
its Grota do Cirilo property. The lithium process design is
proprietary and includes DMS technology. The Plant design is
projected to produce 220,000 tonnes of high quality battery-grade
6% lithium oxide concentrate per annum, with one of the lowest
levels of impurities in the world. The Company is in the final
stages of the DFS for the Xuxa deposit. At a later stage Sigma has
the option to double the Plant capacity to process 3 million metric
tonnes of spodumene ore per year, producing an expected 440,000
tonnes of high quality battery-grade 6% lithium oxide concentrate,
subject to completion of all related studies and assessments.
The LP will permit the company to initiate construction of the
Plant, following the conclusion of the ongoing DFS. The LI will
permit the Company to conduct transport, trial mining, and testing
of the DMS beneficiation process of spodumene ore from the Xuxa
into battery grade lithium concentrate.
“We are honoured by the trust that the State of Minas Gerais
government has put into our green mining and clean lithium
beneficiation project. It represents a major milestone for Sigma’s
project in Brazil. It is one of the first dual LP/LI environmental
licenses to be awarded in Minas Gerais. The simultaneous awarding
of both the construction and installation licenses for the Plant
are fundamental steps to expedite Sigma’s timetable to production
in 2020,” says Calvyn Gardner, Sigma’s CEO. “We are very fortunate
to be based in the business and mining-friendly State of Minas
Gerais where Sigma underwent a very rigorous environmental
licensing process by SUPRAM, the Regional Superintendence of the
Environment. During this assessment, Sigma was able to demonstrate
its deep commitment to sustainable mining by having proactively
directed resources towards applying the most environmentally
advanced mining and processing techniques in its operations. The
Plant will use dry stacking technology to manage tailings and
recycle more than 90% of its water used in the processing and
beneficiation of the battery grade lithium concentrate. As a
result, Sigma will not be building a tailings dam. Additionally,
the project’s energy will also be green as it is sourced from a
hydroelectric power plant,” he adds.
During the licensing process, Sigma pro-actively presented to
SUPRAM a number of sustainability programs focused on the
environment, local community and wildlife. Such programs include
environmental supervision and management, rainwater draining
implementation and management, reuse of waste and reforestation,
amongst others. As part of the licensing process, SUPRAM also
examined the impact of the Xuxa mine on water, air, fauna and flora
as well as Sigma’s plans to benefit the local community; generating
jobs, providing health and safety programs, attracting new
companies to the region and boosting local business and societal
development.
Following the regulatory assessment, SUPRAM found that the
project would not cause any significant adverse environmental
effects and its environmental licenses were approved subject to the
implementation of the mitigation measures and monitoring programs.
Sigma had proactively put forth during the licensing process many
of the sustainability and development programs requested by
SUPRAM’s regulatory assessment and conditionalities.
Sigma has maintained a constant dialogue with the local
community since the beginning of its activities in the region,
proactively putting forward a series of environmental and local
community initiatives to positively benefit the region as well as
meet environmental license requirements. Before awarding the
licenses, SUPRAM conducted extensive studies into Sigma’s project
and its impact on the environment and local community. The study
involved a public consultation period. Sigma received formal
unwavering public support from the community of Itinga in the Vale
do Jequitinhonha.
“We are going to build a significant green mining project based
on clear environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and
best practices,” says Ana Cabral, Sigma’s Chief Strategy Officer.
“We are backed by some of the largest ESG-focused institutional
investors in the world and are deeply committed to these
principles,” she adds.
Earlier this year, Sigma received the definitive water license
for the construction of the Plant granted by the National Water
Agency of Brazil (Agência Nacional de Águas), as announced in our
press release dated February 20, 2019.
Annual General Meeting As announced above,
Sigma is also pleased to invite its shareholders and the media to
its 2019 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The corporation
will review the activities of the last fiscal year and provide an
overview on current activities. Executive Chairman of the Board and
CEO Mr. Gardner as well as members of the Board of Directors will
be available for media questions after the meeting.
INDEPENDENT QUALIFIED PERSON The technical and
scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and
approved by Marc Antoine Laporte, P.Geo., M. Sc., of SGS Canada
Inc. Mr. Laporte is a Qualified Person as defined by National
Instrument 43-101 and is independent of Sigma.
ABOUT SIGMA LITHIUMSigma is a leading lithium
company at the forefront of the movement to decrease CO2 emissions
globally. Sigma, which is on a fast-track to commercial production
in 2020, will produce a highly engineered, low impurities 6%
battery grade lithium concentrate to the global supply chain of the
fast-growing lithium-ion battery market, driven by the increasing
demand for electric vehicles and energy storage worldwide.
Sigma started to produce battery-grade lithium concentrate on a
pilot scale in 2018, shipping high quality above 6% Li2O coarse
lithium concentrate samples to potential customers. Based on the
initial design being considered under the feasibility study, a
larger scale lithium concentration commercial production plant will
contemplate a capacity of 220,000 tonnes of battery-grade spodumene
concentrate annually.
Our corporate mission is to execute our strategy while embracing
best in class environmental, social, and governance
(“ESG”) principles. Sigma’s shareholders include
some of the largest ESG-focused institutional investors in the
world.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Sigma
Lithium Resources Corporation www.sigmalithiumresources.com
Company Contact: Ana Cabral Chief Strategy Officer and Director of
Investor Relations 55 11 2985-0089 ana.cabral@sigmaca.com
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release
contains forward-looking statements relating to Sigma’s objectives,
the potential for increased resources, concentration plant
construction and expected production levels, achieving sustainable
production and other statements that are not historical facts.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the
plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will
occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous
assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both
general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the
predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking
statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and
results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates
or projections of future performance or results expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions,
risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the state of
the economy in general and capital markets in particular, the
availability of project financing for the construction and
operation of the Plant on reasonable terms, investor interest in
the business and future prospects of Sigma and the settlement of
definitive offtake and other commercial agreements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release
are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by
law, Sigma disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by applicable securities law. Additionally, Sigma
undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or
statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters
discussed above. The key risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results or the material factors and assumptions applied in
preparing forward-looking information to differ materially from
predictions, forecasts, projections, expectations or conclusions
are discussed in the “Risk Factors” of Sigma’s public disclosed
materials and information. We caution that the foregoing list is
not exhaustive of all possible factors.
For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions
that could cause our actual results to differ from current
expectations, please refer to our public filings available at
www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this news release.
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