The ruling was issued on Friday in a civil lawsuit filed by the Federation of Quilombola Communities of Minas Gerais. The organization argued that the mining project falls within the direct area of influence of the Bau Quilombola Community.
Quilombolas are traditional communities of African descent formed by people who escaped slavery. Their territories are protected by the state and projects that could affect them are subject to more extensive licensing requirements.
Judge Antonio Lucio Tulio de Oliveira Barbosa said there was enough evidence to establish that the Bau territory was within the mine project’s area of influence. That would trigger requirements including free, prior and informed consultation with the community.
The judge also cited the potential risk of harm, noting that Sigma’s mining complex conducts “constant blasting and earthmoving activities just a few kilometres from the traditional territory.”
Studies cited in the ruling indicate that the territory is approximately 2.7 km (1.7 miles) from the area directly affected by the project. That distance is within the 8 km threshold that requires the more extensive licensing process.
Sigma has maintained that its project is outside the impact zone. The court ordered an independent georeferencing expert to determine the precise distance between the mining project and the Quilombola territory.
In addition to suspending the environmental licenses, the ruling prevents the Minas Gerais state government from issuing new licenses and imposes a fine on Sigma if it continues mining operations.
Grota do Cirilo is Sigma’s only productive asset. The mine has a nameplate capacity of 330,000 tons of lithium oxide concentrate on an annualised basis.
Sigma did not respond to a request for comment made outside normal working hours.
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