SIGMA Lithium Corporation dedicated to powering the next generation of electric vehicles with environmentally sustainable and high-purity lithium, is pleased to provide an update on its ESG initiatives in the region of its Grota do Cirilo Project, located in the Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brazil, one of the poorest areas in the world: “Zero Hunger Action“; “Homecoming Employment Program (Volta Ao Lar)“; “Education Program for Mining Technicians“; “OMICRON COVID-19 Prevention Program“; “Re-Opening of Childcare Centers Initiative“; and “Disaster Relief During Floods“.
Sigma Lithium is actively engaged in supporting the communities in Vale do Jequitinhonha through multiple ESG initiatives, contributing to the sustainable development of the region as the Company rapidly advances the construction of its Phase 1 Plant towards commercial production.
“Contributing to lift our neighbors in the communities around the Project is the core purpose of Sigma, motivating us every day to execute faster and better” says co-CEO Ana Cabral-Gardner. “As a large future producer of battery grade lithium, Sigma Lithium feels a great responsibility to develop its Project with a focus on environmental and social sustainability, in alignment with the ethos of its customers. Our main objective is to play a leading role in building a sustainable supply chain for the EV Industry” she adds.
ZERO HUNGER ACTION
Sigma Lithium is pleased to announce that on March 17th, it delivered its 7,000th food basket as part of its ongoing food drive to support vulnerable families struggling with the difficulties imposed by the pandemic. Sigma Lithium has fed the equivalent of more than 3,000 people over the past 10 months, providing approximately 1.2 million meals.
To celebrate this milestone, Sigma Lithium renewed its commitment to supporting impoverished families with an additional 7,000 food baskets over the next 10 months. This means Sigma Lithium has doubled down on its Zero Hunger Action program and expects to enable approximately 2.4 million meals.
The Zero Hunger Action is aligned with Sigma Lithium’s social sustainability purpose benchmarked with the United Nations sustainable development goals #1 (no poverty), #2 (zero hunger) and #17 (partnership with the goals).
HOMECOMING EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (VOLTA AO LAR)
Sigma Lithium remains dedicated to providing jobs for its local communities and there are currently over 300 workers on site aiding in the construction of the Project.
Sigma Lithium successfully established its Homecoming Employment Program (“Volta Ao Lar”), catalyzing the reconstitution of the social fabric of the region by reuniting families, bringing back home to the municipalities in which we operate, the qualified workforce that previously migrated out of the region due to lack of employment opportunities.
Sigma Lithium is proud to report that approximately 72% of its total workforce at the Project is from the Vale do Jequitinhonha region, representing a significant social economic impact for the region.
The Homecoming Employment Program action is part of Sigma Lithium’s social sustainability purpose benchmarked with the United Nations sustainable development goals #8 (decent work and economic growth) and #10 (reduced inequalities).
EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR MINING TECHNICIANS
Sigma Lithium’s Chief Sustainability Officer has acted as a catalyst to create an association between the Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus Janauba and the Federal Institute of Education of Araçuaí, creating the first program to prepare mining technicians in the region.
The Education Program for Mining Technicians action is aligned with Sigma Lithium’s social sustainability purpose benchmarked with the United Nations sustainable development goals #4 (quality education) and #17 (partnership with the goals).
Co-CEO Ana Cabral-Gardner noted, “Sigma Lithium is contributing to transform the Vale do Jequitinhonha region into a knowledge hub for innovation and training of qualified professionals in lithium materials and mining.”
OMICRON COVID-19 PREVENTION PROGRAM
With the onset of the OMICRON COVID variant, the Company has continued its protection efforts to the communities in the Vale do Jequitinhonha region, supporting the equivalent of more than 240,000 people. Sigma Lithium has distributed:
- prevention education booklets to the population;
- 12,000 liters of disinfectant and 840kg of alcohol gel hand sanitizer for 16 local hospitals and clinics; and
- other supplies including 217 liters of liquid soap, 543 liters of shampoo, 490 toothbrushes, 29,700 diapers and 62,600 napkins.
Sigma Lithium partnered with YPE S/A and Industrias Raymundo da Fonte in order to procure these large quantities of supplies and meet the logistical challenge of rapidly delivering them to the local communities. Sigma Lithium’s project-based team combined forces with the municipalities of Araçuaí and Itinga for the distribution of these products to hospitals, medical clinics, prisons, nursing homes, and care centers for people with disabilities.
The OMICRON COVID-19 Prevention Program action is aligned with Sigma Lithium’s social sustainability purpose benchmarked with the United Nations sustainable development goal #3 (good health and well-being) and #17 (partnership with the goals).
See related article: Allego, a Leading Pan-European EV Fast Charging Network, Announces its Participation in the JP Morgan Global ESG Conference
RE-OPENING OF CHILDCARE CENTERS INITIATIVE
Sigma Lithium also launched a program to support the re-opening and to sponsor two childcare facilities, one in each of the municipalities where its Project is located. The objective of the program is to assist annually 560 children in need. The childcare centers serviced children under the age of three years old, enabling their mothers to resume gainful employment following the economic re-opening post COVID-19.
The childcare centers initiative action is aligned with Sigma Lithium’s social sustainability purpose benchmarked with the United Nations sustainable development goal #3 (good health and well-being), #10 (reduction of inequalities) and #17 (partnership with the goals).
DISASTER RELIEF DURING FLOODS
Since the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company distributed over 11,000 liters of potable water as part of relief efforts to families who either lost their homes or were displaced by the floods caused by the unusually rainy season in the Vale do Jequitinhonha region. This action helped 400 families with partial or no access to potable water and food during the holiday season.
Source: SIGMA Lithium Corporation