Construction Contracts
SMSA has signed an agreement for the EPCM of the Production Plant and associated infrastructure with Promon. The detail engineering is progressing according to priority and both companies started issuing construction drawings according to the schedule baseline. Procurement services according to the Procurement Plan defined in the FEED. Construction Management includes general scheduling, managing all items, generating weekly dash boards, preparing presentations with critical points, preventive and corrective actions in order to reach the project deadlines.
In April 2022, SMSA signed an agreement for the civil construction of the Phase 1 Greentech Plant with engineering firm Tucumann Engenharia e Empreendimentos Ltda. The scope of work includes all civil construction works and services for the implementation of the Project, including the supply of materials, commissioning, provision of documentation, topographic survey services, excavations, shallow foundations, concrete structures, buildings, paving, streets, urbanization and landscaping and rainwater drainage and spare parts.
In March 2022, SMSA signed an agreement for the construction of a substation and the displacement of an existing transmission line with Tecnova Engenharia Ltda. The scope of work includes all civil construction, electromechanical and electrical assembly works and services for the implementation of the including, the civil project, the electrical project, the electromechanical project, the supply and installation of materials, structures and equipment, as well as commissioning, supply of documentation as built of the civil, electromechanical and electrical works, considering all the technical information informed by a state power company (“CEMIG”).
In July 2022, SMSA signed an agreement for the construction of a laboratory with SGS Geosol. The scope of work includes all work for the management of the assembly of the SMSA’s internal laboratory and implementation, including the electrical project, the electromechanical project (including, but not limited to, the drawings, layouts, technical specifications, bills of materials, calculation memorials and documents), hydraulic design, supply and installation of materials, structures and equipment, as well as commissioning, start-up, supply of “as built” documentation of the projects, electromechanical, hydraulic and electrical, and all other services necessary for the execution of the scope of work.
In July 2022, SMSA signed an agreement for the electromechanical assembly of the Phase 1 Greentech Plant with PAREX Engenharia S.A. The scope of work includes all assembly of the Phase 1 Greentech Plant, and the supply of materials for such scope of works.
SMSA is in negotiation with respect to the construction contracts for Phase 2.
Environmental Studies, Permitting and Social or Community Impact
COPAM granted an Operation License (LO) to SMSA for commercial production and sale in March 2023 for the Xuxa’s Pit #1 (North Pit) and in April 2023 for the Xuxa’s Pit #2 (South Pit).
On August 17, 2022, Sigma applied for the permitting of the environmental license for the Barreiro mine and waste piles. The environmental license for the subsequent phases will solely contemplate the license of the deposits and of its waste piles.
SMSA holds approved economic mining plans (Plano de Aproveitamento Econômico or PAE) over the Xuxa, Barreiro, Lavra do Meio, Murial, Maxixe and Nezinho do Chicâo deposits within the Grota do Cirilo project. The PAE for Xuxa was updated and approved in August 2018, while the PAE for Barreiro was updated and approved in July 2022.
Reclamation plans (referred to as degraded area plans or PRADs) have been developed and implemented for certain past-producing areas within the Grota do Cirilo property. The successful recovery of these areas is managed by SMSA personnel and external consultants in conjunction with the governing regulatory agencies.
Sigma has held regular meetings and consultation sessions with local stakeholders regularly over the last five years. The further development of SMSA mining activities in the Jequitinhonha Valley is viewed by both communities as an important regional economic driver.