Sayona Mining Limited announced it was awarded the final permit for the production recommencement of its North American Lithium (NAL) operations.
To guarantee the successful restart of NAL’s lithium mine and concentrator in compliance with all necessary environmental regulations and obligations, Sayona Québec undertook a protracted permitting process.
The most recent regulatory approval is one of over 130 granted by provincial and federal government authorities, including the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP), the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF), and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
Sayona has extensively improved the equipment and facilities of the NAL complex to ensure effective production optimisation while following the highest environmental standards. By the end of October 2022, procurement was 98 per cent complete, with construction activities ramping up and mining contractors onsite.
“Since acquiring the NAL complex in August 2021 in conjunction with Piedmont Lithium (SYA 75%; Piedmont 25%), our team has been working hard to quickly restart operations to establish ourselves as a leader in lithium production, while maintaining a small environmental footprint and exemplary community engagement. Global demand for lithium is increasing weekly and it is essential that NAL go into production to help satisfy this demand,” said Sayona Québec CEO Guy Laliberté.
Sayona Québec Vice President Environment Annie Blier stated that Sayona would become the sole producer of lithium concentrate in Québec and Canada due to this significant advancement. Blier added that this is an extremely promising position for our region, putting us at the forefront of the upcoming energy transition.
“I am very proud that Abitibi?Témiscamingue will become one of the catalysts of this global revolution. We are committed to respecting and following environmental best practices on an ongoing basis,” Blier said.
Sayona Managing Director Brett Lynch welcomed the milestone in the resumption of production at NAL.
Lynch stated that securing all necessary permits for NAL’s restart is another important step in the derisking process, and he’d like to congratulate our team in Québec on this new accomplishment.
“With the planned expansions of our resource base both at NAL and at our northern lithium hub, Sayona is well placed to become the leading lithium producer in North America, facilitating the EV and battery revolution in North America,” Lynch added.
Sayona recently unveiled a pre-feasibility study for the potential production of lithium carbonate at the operation, as it continues to expand its Abitibi lithium hub centred on NAL.
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