Electric Royalties Ltd (TSX-V:ELEC, OTC:ELECF) revealed that Sayona Mining Limited has voluntarily submitted its Authier Lithium project for an environmental impact assessment and review under the Québec government's Bureau d'audiences publiques en environnement (BAPE) process.
The Vancouver-based royalty company holds a 0.5% gross metal royalty on the Authier Lithium project, which is located 45 kilometers (km) northwest of the city of Val d’Or, a major mining service center in Québec.
Electric Royalties indicated that Sayona Mining’s request had been accepted by the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change. In a nutshell, BAPE’s mission is geared towards helping decision‐making by communicating findings to the Environment Minister and flagging any local concerns that are based on the principles of the Sustainable Development Act.
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Following Sayona’s acquisition of the North American Lithium (NAL) mine and concentrator in August 2021, the Authier project’s operating strategy was revised to include only mining operations and waste and water management onsite.
The project is set to become a supplier of ore to Sayona’s nearby NAL operation, which has an established concentrator, thereby minimizing the need for mining infrastructure and related environmental impacts at Authier, noted the royalty company.
The Authier project no longer requires its own concentrator or tailings storage, and the planned daily output below the 2,000-tonne threshold has resulted in “a considerably reduced environmental impact, compared to the original regulatory submission,” noted Electric Royalties.
Meanwhile, Sayona has indicated that its NAL operation is on track to recommence spodumene (lithium) production in March 2023.
The Authier Lithium project area comprises 19 mineral claims totaling 653 hectares and the mineral claims are located over Crown Lands.
Electric Royalties has a growing portfolio of 21 royalties, including two royalties that currently generate revenue.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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