Sigma Lithium resumes operations in Brazil after court ruling
SGML•Sigma Lithium said it will resume mining and processing at its Grota do Cirilo project after a federal appeals court upheld its environmental licences. The ruling reinforces its target of reaching an annualized production rate of 330,000 tonnes of lithium oxide concentrate by the end of 2027.
1. Court ruling clears restart
Sigma said the appeals court overturned an emergency order issued last month by a federal judge in Teofilo Otoni that had suspended its licences, allowing it to fully resume mining and processing. The dispute stems from a lawsuit brought by Ngolo, an association representing local Quilombola communities. Sigma said its operations are outside a newly claimed community perimeter and that its licences were issued in accordance with applicable regulations.
2. Production plans
Sigma said it does not need additional mining or processing capacity to meet its 2027 target, citing capacity at its South Pit, existing processing plant and recycling and reprocessing circuits installed after a 2024 upgrade. The plant had previously produced more than 950 tonnes of lithium concentrate per day and exceeded 1,000 tonnes on several days after the upgrade. The company plans to restart a second expansion phase in 2027 that could lift annual capacity to about 580,000 tonnes, followed by a third phase targeting 830,000 tonnes.
