North American lithium project, Canada

8th July 2022 By: Sheila Barradas - Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

North American lithium project, Canada

Name of the Project
North American lithium (NAL) project.

Location
Quebec, Canada.

Project Owner/s
Sayona Quebec is owned 75% by Sayona  Mining and 25% by Piedmont.

Project Description
A positive prefeasibility study completed in May 2022 has confirmed the project’s technical and financial viability.

The project has a mine life of 27 years, based on Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant proven and probable reserves of 29.2-million tonnes grading 0.96% lithium oxide.

Mining will be undertaken by conventional bulk mining methods using hydraulic excavators, dump trucks and drill-and-blast coupled to a run-of-mine stockpile. The processing plant will have a capacity of 1.5-million tonnes a year and will produce 163 266 t/y of spodumene concentrate for total spodumene production of 4.4-million tonnes over the mine’s life.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of C$952-million and an internal rate of return of 140%, with a capital payback of two years.

Capital Expenditure
A$102-million.

Planned Start/End Date
The operation is on track for resumption of spodumene concentrate production in the first quarter of 2023.

Latest Developments
Sayona has formally approved the restart of the NAL operation,  with  a budget of about C$98-million.

The company has taken significant steps to expedite the production restart, having recruited key personnel, secured long-lead equipment items, advanced detailed engineering design work and obtained nearly all the required regulatory approvals.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sayona Mining, tel +61 7 3369 7058 or email info@sayonamining.com.au.