Sigma Lithium, a Canadian lithium producer, has confirmed the approval of a triple environmental licence for its Barreiro mine in Brazil.
The Barreiro site, part of the company’s fully owned Grota do Cirilo property, is set to play a key role in supplying spodumene ore to Sigma Lithium’s Greentech Industrial Plant in the years ahead.
The licences, which include Licença Operacional (LO), Licença Prévia (LP), and Licença de Instalação (LI), were granted by the Chamber of Mining Activities (Câmara Técnica Especializada em Atividades Minerárias) in Minas Gerais.
The decision, reached through a unanimous vote, included approvals from all non-governmental organisation representatives. The licensing process involved an extensive review aimed at ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
Sigma Lithium CEO Ana Cabral said: “This licence provides us with the regulatory framework necessary for our future operations at Barreiro, ensuring a consistent and reliable supply of lithium feedstock for years to come.
“We deeply appreciate the trust and confidence placed in us by the state of Minas Gerais to continue developing one of the world’s most sustainable lithium operations.
“The unanimous approval of the triple environmental licence is a testament to our years-long proactive community engagement activities with our future neighbours, investing social capex well in advance of mining activities, underscoring our unwavering commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices.”
The approval secures the Barreiro mine as a future source of spodumene ore for Sigma Lithium’s operations, aligned with the 16-year financing terms from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). Although current production levels do not necessitate mining at Barreiro, the licence ensures the site is prepared for future integration.
While current operations do not require immediate mining activity at Barreiro, the approval secures its readiness for future phases of production.
Sigma Lithium initiated the environmental evaluation for the Barreiro mine in January 2021 and submitted the licensing application in mid-2022. The company also commenced social investment initiatives in the surrounding communities during 2023.
Collaborating with the municipalities of Araçuai and Itinga, Sigma Lithium funded the construction of educational infrastructure, including a school and childcare facility. Additionally, partnerships with local non-governmental organisations have facilitated after-school programmes focused on education and cultural activities for children in the area.
Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo operations are positioned within the electric vehicle battery materials supply chain, with production centred on the company’s Greentech beneficiation plant. The plant produces lithium concentrate under a model designed to minimise environmental impact, including eliminating the use of potable water, toxic chemicals, and tailings dams.
Phase 1 of operations at Grota do Cirilo commenced commercial production in the second quarter of 2023. Following this, Sigma Lithium approved the development of Phase 2, which is set to double production capacity to 520,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate annually.
