Key personnel have been recruited, long-lead time equipment has been ordered, detailed engineering work is moving forward, and almost all the required regulatory approvals have been received. The concentrator commissioning is on track with first production planned for the first quarter 2023.
The NAL project was originally developed by Quebec Lithium (later RB Energy) between 2012 and 2014, but it ran out of funds. The subsequent owner, North American Lithium, actually mined the deposit in 2017, but ran into trouble with its attempt at flotation of the ore.
After North American Lithium filed for creditor protection, Sayona paid C$46.7 million for the NAL project and nearby Authier carbonate project.
Mining will take place using conventional open pit methods at the Authier site 70 km from the concentrator. Sayona expects to produce about 115,000 tonnes of spodumene (6% lithium oxide) concentrate annually for 27 years.
Proven and…
