NAL Restart on Track Permitting Procurement Near Completion
Brisbane, Sep 16, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Emerging lithium producer Sayona Mining Limited (
ASX:SYA) (DML:FRA) (SYAXF:OTCMKTS) is on track for the planned Q1 2023 restart of spodumene (lithium) production at its North American Lithium (NAL) operation in Quebec, with construction, procurement, recruitment and other activities continuing to advance.
The NAL project team continued to progress the restart during Quebec's summer months of July and August, with permitting applications now 95% complete and procurement at 94%, with most major procurement items already on-site. Construction activities also ramped up during the period, with the installation of the HP300 and HP400 Cone Crushers well underway, the Change room nearly fully operational and the Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separator (WHIMS) being installed, among other items.
The overall project budget has also been lowered to C$95.5 million from the previous C$97.75 million due to reductions in the scope of work, with commitments to date of C$41.6 million compared to the planned C$45.4 million. The project team's continuous communication and close contact with vendors has resulted in innovative strategies to maintain the planned schedule, with contingency plans in place to mitigate any potential delays to equipment deliveries.
NAL currently has approximately 70 staff on-site, with Sayona Quebec recently further strengthening its management team with the appointment of Exploration Director, Dominic Fleming; Finance Director, Fady Abu Nasr; and Vice-President of Health and Safety, Bernard Toupin, among other hires.
Importantly, there have been no lost-time incidents to date, reflecting the Company's commitment to a Zero Tolerance policy regarding safety. Operational readiness, pre-operational and verification plans including training and process operational support ramped up during the period, with operators being recruited early in the process to ensure an efficient and effective start-up.
Meanwhile, in a new milestone for Sayona, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced that the Company will join the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index prior to the open of trading on Monday, 19 September 2022. The promotion follows strong growth in Sayona's market value over the past year and will spur increased institutional investment in the Company.
Sayona's Managing Director, Brett Lynch commented: "We are delighted to see the continued progress towards the recommencement of lithium (spodumene) production at NAL in Q1 2023. Our project team has overcome potential challenges due to proactive forward planning and the early ordering of critical long-lead equipment items, while the near completion of permitting and procurement puts us in an excellent position.
"Our recent achievements have been recognised by investors, as seen by our promotion to the S&P/ASX200 index, and I would like to thank shareholders for their continued support. With the right team in place, an ESG-friendly operation due to Quebec's clean and green hydro power and the backing of key stakeholders, we are well placed for further growth as the leading lithium producer in North America."
The relaunch of the NAL operation was formally approved by the board of Sayona and partner Piedmont Lithium (ASX:PLL) in June (refer ASX release 28 June 2022).
Significantly, 50% of NAL's lithium carbonate plant has already been built, with Sayona evaluating plans for lithium carbonate or hydroxide production as per its commitment to launch downstream processing in the Canadian province, benefitting from its sustainable hydroelectricity, world-class infrastructure and access to key battery markets.
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About Elevra Lithium Limited
Elevra Lithium Limited (ASX:ELV) (NASDAQ:ELVR) is North America's largest hard-rock lithium producer with a diversified portfolio of high-quality assets across Quebec Canada, the United States, Ghana and Western Australia.
Our flagship operation, the North American Lithium (NAL) mine in Quebec, Canada has successfully ramped up production of spodumene concentrate, supported by ongoing operational enhancements to increase recovery rates, throughput, and mill utilisation. Following a Mineral Resource upgrade, Elevra completed a Scoping Study for a brownfield expansion to increase NAL's annual spodumene concentrate production and reduce unit operating costs.
Complementing NAL, the Moblan Lithium Project in northern Quebec represents one of the largest undeveloped spodumene resources in North America, with a Mineral Resource of 121 Mt @ 1.19% Li2O.
Development activities are progressing with feasibility studies targeting a large-scale, long-life operation capable of supplying both domestic and international markets.
In Western Australia, Elevra holds an extensive portfolio of lithium and gold tenements, where exploration programs are advancing to unlock additional growth opportunities. Meanwhile, in the United States, our Carolina Lithium Project offers a strategic foothold in the downstream lithium chemicals market and our project in Ghana provides a further option for future growth.
Looking ahead, Elevra is focused on strategic downstream partnerships to enable further value-added lithium production, positioning the Company to deliver a secure, sustainable supply of critical minerals to global customers. Together, these assets establish Elevra as a growth-focused supplier supporting the global energy transition.
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