Sigma Lithium Corporation has confirmed that its mining and industrial activities at the Grota do Cirilo project in Brazil are operating normally, pushing back against reports of a preliminary judicial ruling allegedly suspending its environmental licenses.

The company stated it has not received any formal legal communication regarding the ruling, which was reportedly issued by courts in Teofilo Otoni over 300 kilometres away from the operations in Vale do Jequitinhonha. Sigma Lithium maintains that the preliminary decision was issued without due process during a national holiday recess and intends to begin its legal defense when the courts resume operations.

The latest development diverges from the company's previously established position of regulatory stability following its recently finalized Terms for Adjustment of Procedures agreement with Minas Gerais state authorities. Sigma Lithium denies that the preliminary court action overrules that settlement and notes that any potential daily fines or enforcement measures would require full due legal process, including appeals in federal courts, which typically spans multiple years.

Operations continue while the company advances its expansion plans. Sigma Lithium expects to deliver 240,000 tonnes of lithium oxide concentrate within the next 12 months, followed by 330,000 tonnes in fiscal 2027.

These targets reflect an expanded operational scale compared to earlier disclosed figures. The company previously operated under a Phase 1 nameplate capacity of 270,000 tonnes per annum with Phase 2 designed to reach 520,000 tonnes. Current plans outline an increased annualized nameplate capacity of 330,000 tonnes, with the Phase 2 expansion engineered to scale annual production to 580,000 tonnes and a subsequent Phase 3 targeting 830,000 tonnes.

The Grota do Cirilo property includes the Barreiro mine, which secured a Triple Environmental License with unanimous approval in December 2024 to support continuous integrated operations throughout a 16-year development bank financing term.

Read the full announcement: Sigma Lithium Confirms Its Mining and Industrial Operations Remain Unaffected by a Preliminary Judicial Ruling Issued Without Due Process