Sigma Lithium Resources CorpBrazilian judge suspended mining operations and environmental licences at Sigma's only active mine, Grota do Cirilo, over lack of Quilombola consultation.

A Brazilian judge has ordered the suspension of mining operations and environmental licences at Sigma Lithium's Grota do Cirilo mine in Minas Gerais, following a civil lawsuit by the Federation of Quilombola Communities of Minas Gerais. The court found sufficient evidence that the Bau Quilombola Community, a protected traditional community, falls within the mine's direct area of influence, triggering requirements for free, prior and informed consultation. The judge cited risks from blasting and earth-moving operations located a few kilometres from the Bau territory, which is about 2.7km from the mine's directly affected area, within the 8km threshold requiring more extensive licensing. The ruling suspends all current environmental licences, prevents the state from issuing new ones, and sets a fine if operations continue. Grota do Cirilo is Sigma's only active mine, with a nameplate capacity of 330,000 tonnes per annum of lithium oxide concentrate; phase one, which began in 2023, produces 270,000tpa, and a second phase under construction aims to nearly double output.
Sigma Lithium Resources CorpBrazilian judge suspended mining operations and environmental licences at Sigma's only active mine, Grota do Cirilo, over lack of Quilombola consultation.