The mining company Sigma will invest 859,4 million reais in the border between Araçuaí and Itinga, in the Jequitinhonha Valley, to produce lithium in the north of Minas Gerais
The mining company Sigma Lithium will invest BRL 859,4 million to produce high purity lithium on the border between Araçuaí and Itinga, in the Jequitinhonha Valley, north of Minas Gerais. This month, the company began earthworks at the production and processing plant at Grota do Cirilo, in Itinga. This will be the first plant of its kind in the country and the expectation is to complete the works in 2022, when it will start producing 220 thousand tons per year of lithium concentrate. See also: Mineradora Vale will have to pay R$ 1 million for each victim who lost his life in the Brumadinho disaster, in Minas Gerais
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Mining company's lithium production project in northern Minas Gerais
Ana Cabral-Gardner, co-founder of A10 Investimentos, in which the mining company Sigma Lithium is part, said that the production of phase 1 of the project is pre-contracted with the commercial partner Mitsui, for a period of five years. Still according to her, the expectation is to expand capacity to 440 thousand tons in a second phase, starting in 2023.
The executive explains that the mining company's product was certified by the largest manufacturers of batteries for electric cars in the world and that this advance sale was possible because for more than two years they have been operating with a battery-grade lithium sample plant, sent to more than 50 potential customers around the world.
Job creation and adoption of technologies in lithium production
During the mining work in the state in Minas Gerais, around 400 jobs could be generated, reaching 6 indirect jobs, according to the company. Sigma also says that the operation will be 100% digitized and automated electronically, controlled by an algorithm. Sustainable technologies were adopted, such as recirculation of 100% of the water, dry stacking of 100% of the tailings (without the use of dams) and use of 100% renewable energy.
Ana Cabral explains that the investments are justified. Lithium delivered purified and certified would be in the range of US$ 750 to US$ 800 per ton. Currently, global production is concentrated in Chile and Australia. It is a highly specialized product used by industries such as information technology, automotive and renewable energy.
See also: Mining company will implement iron ore exploration megaproject in Minas Gerais. Contributions can reach 11 billion reais and 6,2 thousand jobs can be generated
The mining company SAM – Sul Americana de Metais (SAM), signed a term of commitment whose objective is to monitor public prosecutors in the state of Minas Gerais in the process of environmental licensing of the megaproject for exploration of low-grade iron ore that the multinational intends to implant in the North of Minas. The large project could receive investments of R$ 11 billion and 6,2 jobs could be created.
The governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, said that it will be the first time in Minas Gerais that low-grade iron ore will be extracted. According to him, until today, enterprises in the state have always prioritized and operated with higher grade iron ore. This means a very large mining potential, because several other areas of the state, unlike the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, have lower grades, concludes Zema.
