KALGOORLIE (miningweekly.com) – The restart of the North American Lithium (NAL) operations, in Québec, remained on track for first spodumene concentrate production in the first quarter of 2023.
ASX-listed Sayona Mining said on Thursday that 30% of the NAL plant and equipment upgrades have now been completed, with 50 construction workers on site.
Sayona and its joint venture partner Piedmont formally approved the restart of the NAL operations at a budget of C$98-million. The NAL restart project has been funded through cash contributions by both Sayona and Piedmont, each company having successfully completed significant capital raises in the first half of 2022.
Sayona on Thursday said that the company had commited C$33.7-million to the restart operations to end June compared to the planned budget of C$37.2-million, as items such as classification screens installation, apron feeder, grizzly and chutes installation were completed in July.
The company said that it is closely monitoring any potential late deliveries, with contingency plans in place to avoid any delays in the dry and wet commissioning activities. Sayona is also actively working with suppliers to mitigate any potential supply‐chain challenges.
“It is extremely pleasing to see the rapid progress at NAL as we ramp up towards the recommencement of lithium production,” Sayona MD Brett Lynch said.
“With virtually all of the NAL operation powered by hydroelectricity, this is truly one of the world’s most sustainable lithium operations, an important environmental and social governance differentiator in an industry that aims to facilitate global decarbonisation.”