PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Lithium developer Sayona Mining has secured a rail solution to deliver spodumene from the North American Lithium (NAL) operation to port.
The company on Tuesday announced that it had awarded a C$43-million contract to Québec rail operator Solurail Logistique Inc to transport spodumene concentrate from the NAL operation to port.
Sayona Québec CEO Guy Laliberté said the agreement marked another important step in the restart of operations at NAL, which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.
“We are very happy to collaborate with a local company that will allow Sayona to easily supply its customers by rail, while establishing more roots in the region,” Laliberté said.
“Solurail's strategic location in Abitibi‐Témiscamingue region and the expertise it has developed in transshipment and freight-forwarding are key elements that will contribute to the achievement of our common objectives, as we advance the production of this key battery metal in Québec.”
An earlier prefeasibility study estimated that the 1.5-million-tonne-a-year NAL operation could deliver 4.4-million tonnes of spodumene concentrate over a mine life of 27 years.
Sayona MD Brett Lynch said that securing the necessary pathway to market is a key part of its work in restarting operations at NAL.
“We are determined to employ as many local suppliers as possible to foster increased engagement with local stakeholders, enhancing Québec’s position as the leading supplier of battery metals to North America.”