공지 • May 09
Lithium Ionic Corp Provides Development Update on Its 100%-Owned Bandeira Lithium Project
Lithium Ionic Corp. was pleased to provide a development update on its 100%-owned Bandeira Lithium Project (“Bandeira” or the “Project”), located in Minas Gerais, within Brazil’s globally significant “Lithium Valley”. Bandeira continues to advance steadily toward construction readiness, with engineering, procurement, and permitting workstreams progressing in parallel. Detailed engineering across plant utilities, site infrastructure, and the underground mine continues to advance, supporting the structured release of equipment and contracting packages to the market. In parallel, the Company has made meaningful progress on community engagement through additional consultation. Hect engaged as procurement and contracting partner to lead the structuring and bringing-to-market of mine operations contractor tenders. Overall engineering has advanced to approximately 57% completion since the Feasibility Study PR from September 17, 2025. Multiple plant utility and site infrastructure equipment packages have been issued to bid. Expanded community engagement program at Bandeira, including field studies, consultations, and impact workshops intended to support ongoing permitting processes and long-term social license. To support the upcoming launch of mine operations contractor tenders, Lithium Ionic has engaged Hect, an experienced Brazilian procurement and contracting specialist, to lead the structuring and bringing-to-market of mine operations and underground development tenders. Hect’s local expertise is expected to support a competitive tendering process. This is a key milestone supporting the project’s underground development plan on the path to production. As engineering packages are completed, the Project continues to advance into a structured procurement and contracting phase, with tenders being issued to the market in alignment with completed engineering scopes. Multiple equipment and service packages associated with plant utilities and site infrastructure have been issued to bid as the project continues to advance toward construction readiness. In addition, the Company is in the final stages of securing a manufacturing slot for the processing plant, with a deposit and supplier commitment anticipated in the coming weeks, subject to final negotiations and customary conditions. Engineering activities at Bandeira continue to advance in parallel across plant, site infrastructure, and mine infrastructure workstreams, with overall engineering progress having reached approximately 57% (engineering progress percentages reflect internal project management estimates and do not represent changes to the Feasibility Study’s assumptions, results, or conclusions). Detailed engineering and equipment definition are well advanced across processing-support utilities, including water intake and treatment, raw and potable water distribution, compressed air, sewage treatment, oil treatment, and supporting buildings, enabling the structured release of equipment and service packages to the market. Within mine infrastructure, detailed engineering for underground water management, ventilation, and underground electrical systems is advancing, supporting the upcoming release of associated equipment tenders. In parallel, NCL Ingeniería y Construcción SpA. (“NCL”) continues to advance the detailed underground mine plan and schedule, while Lycopodium-led process plant engineering and additional disciplines progress under the technical support of RTEK International DMCC (“RTEK”). Lithium Ionic expects to provide ongoing updates as engineering advances and key tendering and execution milestones are reached. In parallel with permitting workstreams, Lithium Ionic has advanced an expanded community engagement program at Bandeira, going beyond baseline regulatory requirements through proactive, structured engagement with local stakeholders. Over the past two months, the Company has completed an extensive engagement program, including community hearings, socio-anthropological studies, a social census, and targeted impact workshops. These activities were voluntarily undertaken to strengthen understanding of local conditions and ensure that Project planning is informed by direct community input. Building on this work, the Company is finalizing documentation related to the assessment of potential impacts on traditional communities and is progressing towards the co-development of social and environmental programs aligned with identified community priorities. Lithium Ionic continues to engage constructively with local communities, as well as Federal and State authorities, with oversight led by its Director of ESG and Permitting. The Company views this work as a fundamental element of responsible project development and long-term operational success.