Canadian firm Sigma Lithium has transitioned from a developer to a producer, as it successfully produced its first lithium at the Grota do Cirilo mine, in Brazil.
Sigma says its technical team, led by COO Brian Talbot, will now turn its attention to ramping up throughput to full production capacity, which it expects to achieve by July.
The company aims to send off its first shipment of 15 000 t of lithium next month.
"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. 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,” said CEO and cochairperson Ana Cabral-Gardner.
"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,” she added.
Sigma is continuing with detailed engineering work on the Phase 2 and 3 Greentech plant expansion, targeting to triple production of green lithium from 270 000 t/y to 766 000 t/y, if supported by a feasibility study currently being conducted.