Sigma Lithium Pauses Ops; Keeps FY27 330kt Guide

Sigma Lithium (ASX:SAU) paused all mining and industrial production on 30 September 2026 after an atypical 15-day delay by Brazil's Federal Court of Appeals in reviewing its Emergency Motion For Suspensive Relief, while saying it still expects to deliver 330,000t of lithium oxide concentrate in FY 27.

The pause follows a preliminary emergency injunction in a lawsuit by Ngolo seeking suspension of environmental licenses for the Grota do Cirilo complex in Minas Gerais. Sigma says it will postpone by 3 months its 12-month guidance of 240,000t, and will maintain commercial and recycling operations that sell high-purity lithium fines from dry stacked tailings, expecting to continue to self-fund during the temporary suspension. It says the suspension will generate significant negative economic impact across 12 municipalities in the Vale do Jequitinhonha, where it has contributed to 19,000 direct and indirect job positions. Brazil's second-round general elections conclude on 25 October, and the company flags a potential scenario of a delayed appellate decision or one affected by qualitative negative bias about mining. If the Federal Court of Appeals rules against it, Sigma says it will seek a secondary appeal in the superior federal courts.

The release does not state when production will restart or quantify financial impact of the pause beyond the guidance timing change.