Lithium Ionic Corp. is advancing toward a critical permitting milestone for its Bandeira Lithium Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, following a favorable recommendation from the Minas Gerais State Department of Environment and Sustainable Development (SEMAD). The regulatory body has endorsed the approval of the Concomitant Environmental, Installation, and Operational License (LAC)—a major step toward securing final clearance for the construction and operation of the project.
Lithium Ionic submitted its LAC application in late 2023, triggering a comprehensive environmental review that included:
✅ Site inspections conducted by SEMAD’s technical team.
✅ Detailed evaluations of environmental impact studies and risk assessments.
✅ Multiple regulatory reviews and clarifications, all successfully addressed by the company.
As a result, SEMAD’s interdisciplinary team formally recommended granting the LAC license, which—once approved—will authorize:
Upon final approval, the Installation License (LI) will be valid for four years, while the Operational License (LO)will be valid for ten years, subject to regulatory compliance. The final decision on the license is expected by February 28, 2025, following a review by the Câmara de Atividades Minerárias (CMI), a key decision-making body within SEMAD.
Expressing confidence in the project’s progress, Blake Hylands, CEO of Lithium Ionic, stated:
💬 “This positive recommendation from SEMAD is a pivotal milestone for the Bandeira Project, bringing us significantly closer to receiving full environmental approval and commencing construction. With Bandeira positioned as one of Brazil’s most advanced lithium projects, we are eager to move forward with development and contribute to the global lithium supply chain.”
Alongside the permitting process, Lithium Ionic continues to move forward with engineering and logistical preparations to ensure a smooth transition into the construction phase as soon as the LAC license is granted.
The Bandeira Feasibility Study, published in May 2024, outlined strong financial metrics, including a post-tax NPV8% of USD$1.31 billion and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 40%, reinforcing Bandeira’s potential as a leading lithium operation in Brazil.
As Lithium Ionic moves closer to regulatory approval, the Bandeira Project is set to play a key role in strengthening Brazil’s position in the global lithium supply chain.
