Sigma Lithium overturns $10 million legal ruling in Brazil on appeal
2026-06-10 11:44:27 [Print]
Sigma Lithium announced that it has successfully won an appeal in Brazil, overturning a lower-court decision related to the environmental impacts of its mining operations.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the company said a court in the state of Minas Gerais reversed an earlier ruling by a local judge in Ara?uaí. The original decision had been linked to allegations of irresponsible waste disposal at the Grota do Cirilo lithium operation.
As a result of the appeal victory, Sigma Lithium has removed a potential $10 million legal collateral that was included in the lower-court ruling issued on May 17.
The court ruled in favour of the company after reviewing 12 months of environmental data on dust, noise and vibration - data which Sigma stated were independently collected and verified by external experts.
The legal victory removes a potential obstacle to the company's expansion plans at Grota do Cirilo, one of the largest hard-rock lithium projects in the Americas. Located in a region known as Brazil's "lithium valley," the operation currently has an annual production capacity of 270,000 tonnes of lithium oxide concentrate. A Phase 2 expansion is under consideration, which would nearly double output to 520,000 tonnes per year.
Sigma Lithium has long marketed its lithium products as a low-impact source of battery materials. According to the company's website, its Greentech plant - in operation since 2023 - combines 100% water recycling, zero use of toxic chemicals, zero tailings, and 100% renewable electricity.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the company said a court in the state of Minas Gerais reversed an earlier ruling by a local judge in Ara?uaí. The original decision had been linked to allegations of irresponsible waste disposal at the Grota do Cirilo lithium operation.
As a result of the appeal victory, Sigma Lithium has removed a potential $10 million legal collateral that was included in the lower-court ruling issued on May 17.
The court ruled in favour of the company after reviewing 12 months of environmental data on dust, noise and vibration - data which Sigma stated were independently collected and verified by external experts.
The legal victory removes a potential obstacle to the company's expansion plans at Grota do Cirilo, one of the largest hard-rock lithium projects in the Americas. Located in a region known as Brazil's "lithium valley," the operation currently has an annual production capacity of 270,000 tonnes of lithium oxide concentrate. A Phase 2 expansion is under consideration, which would nearly double output to 520,000 tonnes per year.
Sigma Lithium has long marketed its lithium products as a low-impact source of battery materials. According to the company's website, its Greentech plant - in operation since 2023 - combines 100% water recycling, zero use of toxic chemicals, zero tailings, and 100% renewable electricity.
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