Sigma Lithium Presents Project Progress Update and MD&A for Year End 2018
May 02 2019 - 10:48PM
Highlights the achievement of significant
milestones by the Company
SIGMA Lithium Resources Corporation
(“
Sigma”)
(TSX-V: SGMA) (OTC-QB:
SGMLF) is pleased to present the project progress update
and inform the filing of December 2018 financial statements and
management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December
31, 2018.
Most recent highlights subsequent to the year-end and in 2018,
were (in reverse chronological order):
- Significantly advanced the process to obtain the
required LI and LP environmental licenses required for the
construction and installation (“Environmental Licenses”) of Sigma’s
lithium concentration commercial production plant (“Commercial
Production Plant”). The Company received internal approval from
SUPRAM, Superintendência Regional do Meio Ambiente, the
environmental regulatory approval body (Superintendence of the
Environment in Diamantina) and received formal approval from CPB,
Câmara para Proteção de Biodiversidade (Chamber for the Protection
of Biodiversity).
- Commenced metallurgical studies and test work for
Barreiro deposit to confirm that its lithium spodumene can be
economically processed through the same dense medium separation
(“DMS”) processing circuit of the Commercial Production Plant
designed to process the spodumene of the Xuxa deposit in the
ongoing feasibility study (“DFS”).
- Sigma’s lithium spodumene concentrate samples were
validated by several large customers in the chemical and cathode
industries, who confirmed their exceptional quality with high
grades above 6% and very low impurities, specifically low levels of
alkaline elements and iron, both well below 1%. Sigma has
experienced robust demand for long-term offtake agreements to
supply Sigma spodumene concentrate starting in 2H20.
- Received certain tax incentives and exemptions under
an economic development program administered by SUDENE, a Brazilian
federal government agency. The main tax benefits under the SUDENE
program include a 75% corporate income tax reduction for 10 years
after the Company reaches more than 20% of its annual production
capacity and incentivized accelerated depreciation of assets.
- Received the definitive Water License for the
construction of Sigma’s Commercial Production Plant granted by
Agência Nacional de Águas, the Federal government water agency of
Brazil. The water usage license is valid for 10 years. Sigma will
use advanced environmental equipment and techniques in the
Commercial Production Plant, recirculating up to 90% of the water
in the processing. As a result, the water license received is
sufficient for the Company to process 1.5 million metric tonnes of
spodumene per year, producing an expected 220,000 tonnes of 6%
lithium concentrate as well as at a later stage, if confirmed by a
feasibility study, double capacity to process 3 million metric
tonnes of spodumene per year, producing an expected 440,000 tonnes
of spodumene concentrate.
- Received formal unwavering public support from the
community of Itinga in the Vale do Jequitinhonha, with the
conclusion of the public consultation period of the environmental
licenses without additional public hearings being requested by the
community. Such support has been the result of intensive
communication and interactions Sigma has maintained with the
community during the licensing process by proactively holding
frequent public hearings.
- Signed a binding heads of agreement (“HoA”),
establishing the general terms and conditions of a strategic
alliance with Mitsui including a production pre-payment, offtake
rights and a strategic collaboration, as discussed in our press
release dated April 5, 2019. On the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the HoA, Mitsui would provide a US$
30,000,000 pre-payment facility for a portion of the funding
required to advance the construction of the Company’s Commercial
Production Plant, in exchange for offtake rights to purchase up to
80,000 tonnes of the Company’s spodumene concentrate annual
production. The initial tranche payment of US$3,000,000 has been
received by the Company. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the HOA remains subject to the negotiation of
definitive documentation and other customary closing
conditions.
- Concluded with SGS its Grota do Cirilo property
resource estimate update, multiplying by three times the size of
the measured and indicated mineral resource to 45.7 million tonnes,
as discussed in our press release dated January 10, 2019. The two
deposits that will support Sigma’s future production profile, Xuxa
and Barreiro were increased to a combined measured and indicated
resource of 37.9 million tonnes with an average grade of 1.48%,
amongst the highest in the world. The technical report including
the updated estimates was filed on February 25, 2019 at
www.sedar.com.
- Commissioned Sigma’s pilot production plant (“Pilot
Plant”) at its site in Itinga. The Pilot Plant has the capacity to
produce up to 12,000 tonnes of lithium spodumene concentrate per
year at the rate of 10 tonnes per hour. The Pilot Plant Produced
high quality coarse lithium concentrate samples (“Samples”) with an
average grade of 6.27% Li2O and a size of 9.3mm and Sigma shipped
these Samples to potential long-term offtake partners in Asia for
validation.
NEXT STEPS FOR SIGMA DURING THE SECOND AND THIRD
QUARTERS OF 2019
- Finalize its ongoing DFS (level 3, which includes the complete
design of the Commercial Production Plant, including the
itemization of the long-lead items and detailed mining plan).
- Select an engineering contractor to build its Commercial
Production Plant, once the ongoing DFS is finalized. Sigma has
engaged global engineering firms to prepare a detailed engineering
proposal based on the Commercial Production Plant design prepared
by Primero in the ongoing DFS.
- Complete the financing package for the construction of the
Commercial Production Plant and continue discussions with financing
institutions and strategic partners, including companies from the
lithium, mining, chemicals, battery, automotive sectors.
- Complete the Environmental License approval process.
- Continue ongoing discussions with offtake customers, in order
to celebrate binding offtake agreements.
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 LITHIUM
Sigma is developing a leading lithium hard-rock deposit with
exceptional mineralogy at its Grota do Cirilo project in
Brazil.
Sigma started to produce battery-grade lithium concentrate on a
pilot scale in 2018, shipping high quality coarse lithium
concentrate samples to potential customers produced by the Pilot
Plant. Based on the initial design being considered under the FS, a
larger scale lithium concentration commercial production plant will
contemplate a capacity of 220,000 tonnes of battery-grade spodumene
concentrate annually. If recommended in the FS and required
funding is obtained, Sigma would seek to begin construction by the
end of the second quarter of 2019 and to become a fully-operational
sustainable lithium producer in 2020.
Sigma’s lithium minerals output is destined for the fast-growing
lithium-ion battery market, which is driven by the increasing
demand for electric vehicles and energy storage worldwide. 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 CabralChief Strategy Officer and Director of
Investor Relations55 11 2985-0089ana.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 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” section of Sigma’s Filing
Statement dated April 26, 2018. 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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