Brazilian court suspends licenses for Sigma Lithium mine

A Brazilian judge ordered the suspension of environmental licenses ​and mining activities at Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo mine, a ‌court document reviewed by Reuters showed.

The judge ruled on Friday (4) in a civil suit brought by the Federation of Quilombola Communities of Minas Gerais in which the group said the miner’s ​project was within the direct area of influence of the Bau Quilombola ​community.

Quilombolas are traditional communities of African descent that were created by ⁠people who escaped slavery. Their territories are protected by the state, with more ​extensive licensing for projects that could impact them.

Judge Antonio Lucio Tulio de Oliveira Barbosa ​said there was sufficient evidence that the Bau territory fell within the project’s area of influence, triggering obligations for procedures including a free, prior and informed consultation with the community.

The judge ​said there was risk of harm to the community, as Sigma’s mining complex ​carried out “constant blasting and earthmoving activities just a few kilometres from the traditional territory.”

The judge cited ‌studies ⁠indicating the territory is about 2.7 km (1.7 miles) from the project’s directly affected area, well within the 8 km threshold that triggers the more extensive process.

Sigma has argued the project lies outside the impact zone. The court ordered an independent georeferencing ​expert review to determine ​the exact distance ⁠between the project and the Quilombola territory.

Beyond suspending environmental licenses, the decision bars Minas Gerais state from granting new ones ​and establishes a fine for Sigma if it continues its ​operations.

In a ⁠statement on Monday, Sigma said it continues to operate the mine, and that it has not been notified of what it called “a preliminary judicial ruling issued without due ⁠process.”

The company ​said it would begin its legal defense on ​Tuesday.

The mine, Sigma’s only productive asset, has a nameplate capacity of 330,000 tons of lithium oxide concentrate ​on an annualised basis.

Source: Reuters

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