Sigma Lithium is Awarded BY Bndes a Letter of Intention FOR Development Bank Debt to Fund Construction of Its Environmentally Fully Licensed Second Greentech Industrial Lithium Plant
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SIGMA LITHIUM IS AWARDED BY BNDES A LETTER OF
INTENTION FOR DEVELOPMENT BANK DEBT TO FUND
CONSTRUCTION OF ITS ENVIRONMENTALLY FULLY LICENSED
SECOND GREENTECH INDUSTRIAL LITHIUM PLANT
HIGHLIGHTS
• Sigma Lithium completed the certification process with BNDES, which included the filing of the
final FEL3 Capex for Construction and Engineering of the Second Greentech Plant totaling R$
492,4 million or approximately US$ 100 million
• The Letter of Intention by BNDES outlines its intention to extend the Company development bank
debt financing ("Development Bank Debt") to fund the Second Greentech industrial lithium
concentrate production plant ("Second Greentech Plant") at Vale do Jequi tinhonha in Brazil.
• Sigma is also pleased to announce it was awarded a concomitant LP, LI, LO environmental license
to install and operate ("Full Environmental License") the Second Greentech Plant by the State of
Minas Gerais on January 31, 2024.
o The Company's impeccable sustainability track record led it to receive, once more, a
unanimous vote by all members of the independent environmental board (COPAM), which
votes and awards environmental licenses in Minas Gerais, including the vote of the boar d
members representing the NGOs.
o The Full Environmental License allows the Company to further expand its industrial
beneficiation and processing capacity of lithium minerals to up to a total of 3.7 million
tonnes per year.
• With the Second Greentech Plant, Sigma expects to significantly increase its production capacity
of its Quintuple Zero Green Lithium from the current 270,000 tonnes (on an annualized basis) by
approximately 240,000 tonnes (at a design estimated capacity at 6% Li2O) to approximately
510,000 tonnes.
o The Second Greentech Plant will introduce additional innovations that will further
increase the efficiency of its industrial process to beneficiate spodumene ore into
Quintuple Zero Green Lithium.
o Sigma's learning curve while commissioning the First Greentech Plant, rapidly achieving
nameplate capacity has been essential to its ability to innovate and further enhance a
process that beneficiates spodumene ore into pre-chemical lithium concentrate.
• Sigma anticipates initiating construction in the first quarter of 2024 at the end of the wet raining
season, following a Final Investment Decision to be made by its Board of Directors .
São Paulo , Brazil – (February 09, 2024) – Sigma Lithium Corporation (“Sigma Lithium ” or the “Company”)
(NASDAQ: SGML, BVMF: S2GM34, TSXV: SGML), a leading global lithium producer dedicated to powering the
next generation of electric vehicles with carbon neutral, socially and environmentally sustainable lithium
concentrate, is pleased to announce that it received a Letter of Intention for a project finance credit line
(“Development Bank Credit Line”) from the Development Bank of the Brazil (the “BNDES”). The Development Bank
Credit Line will be used for the expansion of the Company’s world class unique Quintuple Zero Green Lithium
Grota do Cirilo project in Vale do Jequitinhonha in Brazil (the “Project”).
The Letter of Intent is non-binding, as the consummation of the Development Bank Credit Line remains subject to
completion of: (i) observation of operating policies of BNDES in place during the review of Sigma Lithium’s project
finance application; (ii) review of the financing structure proposed by the Company; (iii) the Company submission
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of satisfactory collateral to BNDES. The closing of the Development Bank Credit Line is subject to the final credit
approval by BNDES Credit Committee , negotiation of definitive documentation and other customary closing
conditions, followed by final credit approval for each draw -drown. The financial cost of this type of credit line is
typically based on the Brazilian reference rate (“taxa referencial” or “TR”).
However, the closing conditions do not include lithium market -related conditions and pricing elements that fall
outside of the control of the Company.
The development bank credit line is part of a broader strategic plan by BNDES to foster in Brazil the development
of a world class competitive industrial supply chain to lead the global supply of environmentally and socially
sustainable battery materials.
BNDES stated in the letter that the financing for projects to increase industrial production capacity of critical
minerals is one of the priorities of BNDES’s long term strategy to support the development of a strong, green and
inclusive industrial base in Brazil.
Ana Cabral -Gardner, CEO and Co -Chairman said: “ We are honored and delighted with the Letter of Intention
received today from BNDES. Development Bank Debt awarded by Brazil has the potential to significantly improve
our capital structure due to typical longer duration, significantly lower interest rates and grace periods. Having
BNDES as a creditor represents the support of the government of Brazil to Sigma Lithium ’s industrial expansion
plans at Vale do Jequitinhonha.”
She added “ Despite the recent deterioration in the outlook for lithium demand for the short term, the Company
believes that with the appropriate capital structure enabled by this development bank financing, it has a unique
opportunity to solidify its global industrial competitive leadership in producing low cost and sustainable pre chemical
lithium concentrate. We share with BNDES the belief that the Company’s competitive leadership could become the
vector to attract to Brazil other global industrial player s in the battery supply chain, who are focused in producing
using environmentally and socially sustainable materials supplying the next generation of electric vehicles: aligned
with the ethos of its climate conscious consumers”.
“This BNDES support also allows Sigma to further amplify its transformational impact in the Vale do Jequitinhonha,
one of the poorest regions in the country: illustrating the effects of how a just and inclusive energy transition has
the potential to lift an entire region. Sigma Lithium has been operating with an ESG -centered strategy since it was
founded: it is now producing the most sustainable lithium in the world, staying at the forefront of environmental
practices, effecting economic impact in the community and maintaining a diverse Board with the transparency and
compliance of a Nasdaq US listed public company”, she added.
ABOUT SIGMA LITHIUM
Sigma Lithium (NASDAQ: SGML, BVMF: S2GM34, TSXV: SGML) is a leading global lithium producer dedicated to
powering the next generation of electric vehicle batteries with carbon neutral, socially and environmentally
sustainable chemical-grade lithium concentrate.
Sigma Lithium has been at the forefront of environmental and social sustainability in the EV battery materials
supply chain for six years and it is currently producing Quintuple Zero Green Lithium from its Grota do Cirilo
Project in Brazil. Phase 1 of the project is expected to produce 270,000 tonnes of Quintuple Zero Green Lithium
annually (36,700 LCE annually). If it is determined to proceed after completion of an ongoing feasibility study ,
Phase 2 & 3 of the project are expected to increase production to 766,000 tonnes annually (or 104,200 LCE
annually). The project produces Quintuple Zero Green Lithium in its state-of-the-art Greentech lithium plant that
uses 100% renewable energy, 100% recycled water and 100% dry-stacked tailings.
Please refer to the Company’s National Instrument 43-101 technical report titled "Grota do Cirilo Lithium Project
Araçuaí and Itinga Regions, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Amended and Restated Technical Report" updated January 18,
2024, which was prepared for Sigma Lithium by Marc -Antoine Laporte, P.Geo, S GS Canada Inc; and Iran Zan,
MAIG, Sigma Lithium. The Updated Technical Report is filed on SEDAR and is also available on the Company’s
website.
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The Amended and Restated Technical Report from January 18, 2024 shows a Consolidated Mineral Resource
on the Grota do Cirilo property of 94.3Mt of Measured and Indicated Resources at a grade of 1.40% Li2O and
Inferred Resources of 14.6Mt also at a grade of 1.37% Li2O.
For more information about Sigma Lithium, visit https://www.sigmalithiumresources.com/
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Mathew DeYoe, EVP of Corporate Affairs & Strategic Development,
+1 (201) 819-0303
Jamie Flegg, Director, Business Development
+1 (647) 706-1087
Daniel Abdo, Director, Investor Relations
+55 11 2985-0089
Sigma Lithium
Sigma Lithium
@sigmalithium
@SigmaLithium
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release includes certain "forward -looking information" under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation,
including but not limited to statements relating to timing and costs related to the general business and operational outlook of
the Company, the environmental footprint of tailings and positive ecosystem impact relating thereto, donation and upcycling of
tailings, timing and quantities relating to tailings and Green Lithium, achievements and projections relating to the Zero Tai lings
strategy, achievement of ramp-up volumes, production estimates and the operational status of the Grot a do Cirilo Project, and
other forward -looking information. All statements that address future plans, activities, events, estimates, expectations or
developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur is forward -looking information, including
statements regarding the potential development of mineral resources and mineral reserves which may or may not occur.
Forward-looking information contained herein is based on certain assumptions regarding, among other things: general economic
and political conditions; the stable and supportive legislative, regulatory and community environment in Brazil; demand for lithium,
including that such demand is supported by growth in the electric vehicle market; the Company’s market position and future
financial and operating performance; the Company’s estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves, includi ng whether
mineral resources will ever be de veloped into mineral reserves; and the Company’s ability to operate its mineral projects
including that the Company will not experience any materials or equipment shortages, any labour or service provider outages or
delays or any technical issues. Although management believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-
looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information inhere ntly involves and is subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to that the
market prices for lithium may not remain at current levels; and the market for electric vehicles and other large format batte ries
currently has limited market share and no assurances can be given for the rate at which this market will develop, if at all, which
could affect the success of the Company and its ability to develop lithium operations. There can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate, as ac tual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward -looking information. The Company disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events
or otherwise, except as required by law. For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our
actual results to differ from current expectations, please refer to the current annual information form of the Company and other
public filings available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.