Sigma Lithium Corp (TSX-V:SGML, NASDAQ:SGML) told investors it has successfully and safely achieved its first production of green lithium, concluding the commissioning process and transitioning the company from developer to producer.
The company noted that completing the commissioning of the Phase 1 Greentech Plant is the final critical milestone in the development of the Grota do Cirilo project in Brazil and marks the successful completion of Phase 1 project construction.
Its technical team, led by chief operating officer Brian Talbot, will now turn its attention to ramping up throughput to full production capacity, which it expects to achieve by July 2023.
"Sigma Lithium was created almost a decade ago and set out to prove that lithium extraction could be done in a way that is environmentally and socially responsible,” Sigma Lithium CEO and co-chairperson Ana Cabral-Gardner said in a statement.
“Reaching this milestone from developer to producer is an incredible achievement and a testament to the many years of hard work of the entire Sigma team. We are thrilled to deliver on schedule for our supporters and partners.”
Inaugural first shipment in May
The company said high-quality green lithium will be stockpiled and prepared for sale as the project ramps up to full production capacity, with an inaugural first shipment of approximately 15,000 tonnes expected in May 2023. The company noted its recent announcement that it had obtained its environmental operating license to sell all green lithium product from current and future production, including any stockpiled product.
Sigma Lithium said it continues the detailed engineering work on the Phase 2 & 3 Greentech Plant Expansion, targeting to triple production of green lithium from 270,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) to 766,000 tpa, if supported by the Feasibility Study that is currently being conducted.
"We are endlessly proud to be producing our first tonnes of Green Lithium, and we hope to shine a spotlight on the tremendous potential for Brazil to be a leader in the energy transition as a key supplier of raw materials that can be mined and processed in a sustainable way for our environment and our communities,” Cabral-Gardner added.
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