Sigma starts building Brazil lithium plant, may double capacity

8th December 2021 By: Mariaan Webb - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Canada-headquartered Sigma Lithium has kicked off construction of the production plant at Grota do Cirilo, which is said to be the largest hard rock lithium spodumene deposit in the Americas.

The company started building the foundation and infrastructure installation of its greentech dense media separation production plant at the project, in Brazil.

Sigma co-CEO and lead engineer Calvyn Gardner hailed the start of construction as a “tremendous milestone” following the successful completion of the front-end engineering and design.

“As a result, we have been able to quote FEL-3 capex in line with our FEL-2 estimates in our feasibility study. Our team has worked tirelessly this year on several fronts on detailed engineering and preconstruction with the environmental focus that has been a hallmark of Sigma,” he stated.

Phase 1 of the production plant has been designed to produce up to 220 000 t/y of high purity 6% battery grade lithium concentrate, equivalent to 33 000 t/y of lithium carbonate equivalent.

Sigma has completed a preliminary economic assessment and is conducting a feasibility study for a prospective second production phase, contemplating the addition of a processing line with similar capacity to Phase 1, therefore doubling the project’s capacity.

The feasibility study will be completed in the first quarter of 2022.