Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F [ ] Form 40-F [X]
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGMA LITHIUM
NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT WITH MINAS GERAIS STATE GOVERNMENT TO SETTLE NOTIFICATION BY REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATE BODY;
COINCIDES WITH 2Q PRODUCTION TARGET BEAT
Toronto, July 22, 2026
– Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ: SGML, TSX-V:SGML BVMF: S2GM34) (“Sigma Lithium” or the “Company”),
the largest producer of lithium oxide concentrate in the Americas¹ and dedicated to industrializing socially and environmentally
sustainable lithium materials to supply global producers of batteries for energy security, announces that yesterday it started negotiating
a TAC or terms for adjustment of procedures (“Termo de Ajuste de Conduta” or “TAC Agreement”), with the Minas
Gerais State Government.
The negotiations follow a notification
by the Vale do Jequitinhonha branch of SUPRAM, the Minas Gerais environmental state body, which is based in Diamantina, issuing fines
totaling approximately US$540,000. Several fines were related to environmental issues that occurred from 2013 to 2022.
The Company vehemently
denies any wrongdoing, as outlined in the key claims raised by SUPRAM Jequitinhonha in connection to the Company’s operation. In
this regard, Sigma Lithium confirms that:
| · | The
Company has not misrepresented any information filed with the environmental authorities since 2018; |
| · | The
Company has not commercially sold any lithium materials prior to May 2023; |
| · | The
Company denies the claims alleged by SUPRAM that 2 houses located outside of the licensed area are negatively impacted by
its activities. |
As a result, yesterday Sigma
Lithium started negotiating a TAC Agreement directly with the State Government of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, which has regulatory
authority in the matter. The Company has agreed to a settlement to be established by the TAC Agreement, in addition to the payment of
up to US$540,000 for the abovementioned fines. The fines are not due for at least 120 days.
In parallel to negotiating the
TAC Agreement, Sigma Lithium has filed a significant amount of factual and quantitative environmental evidence supporting its defense
to the claims related to its current operations with FEAM, the Environmental State Regulator in Minas Gerais State.
The Company has built significant
goodwill with the Minas Gerais State Government because of its pivotal role as growth engine of the Vale do Jequitinhonha, having created
19,000 job positions which benefit 80,000 people in what is the poorest region of the State.
TAC AGREEMENT
WITH STATE OF MINAS GERAIS
TAC Agreement is a standardized
form of agreement between regulators and corporates in Brazil. It translates into “terms for adjustment of procedures”. The
adjustments of environmental procedures must be mutually agreed between the regulatory body (federal or state) and the company.
Sigma Lithium estimates that
the execution of the proposed adjustments of environmental procedures under the TAC Agreement will require an estimated capex of approximately
US$ 1,000,000 to enable the resumption of the activities that have been partially and temporarily suspended by the auditors of SUPRAM
Jequitinhonha.
A significant majority of publicly
traded companies in Brazil have TAC Agreements with various regulators (both federal and state), which are used to resolve corporate and
environmental matters, as a TAC Agreements provide legal certainty for the company, by clearly outlining actions to be undertaken,
as well as deadlines for their execution, which are mutually agreed.
ANOTHER “FAKE
NEWS” CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED FOLLOWING THE NOTIFICATION, COINCIDING WITH SIGMA LITHIUM’S POSITIVE PRODUCTION RESULTS AND RE-ELECTION
OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Prior even to the conclusion
of the TAC agreement, yet another negative online “fake news” media campaign was launched against the Company,
disseminating false, inaccurate, and misleading information.
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More importantly, the timing
of the campaign followed a recurrent pattern, emerging immediately after Sigma Lithium made positive news announcements: that it beat
its 2Q production guidance and the election and/or re-election by an overwhelming majority of the votes at the Company’s Annual
General Meeting.
Sigma Lithium remains in close
contact with the appropriate securities authorities regarding the coincidental timing of the negative news flow, including FINRA (US regulator).
ABOUT SIGMA LITHIUM
Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:
SGML, TSXV: SGML, BVMF: S2GM34), (“Sigma Lithium” or “the Company”) is the largest producer of lithium oxide concentrate
in the Americas¹ and dedicated to industrializing socially and environmentally sustainable lithium materials to supply global producers
of batteries for energy security.
The Company runs one of the
world’s largest lithium production sites—the fifth-largest industrial-mineral complex for lithium oxide concentrate—at
its Grota do Cirilo operation in Brazil. Sigma Lithium is at the forefront of environmental and social sustainability in the electric
battery materials supply chain. The Company’s Greentech Industrial Plant combines the reuse of 100% of water, zero use of toxic
chemicals, zero tailings and the use of 100% renewable electricity. For more than two years Sigma Lithium has not experienced an accident
with lost time.
Sigma Lithium currently has
a nameplate capacity to produce 270,000 tonnes of lithium oxide concentrate on an annualized basis (approximately 38,000–40,000
tonnes of LCE) at its mine and state-of-the-art Greentech Industrial Plant. The Company has initiated a Phase 2 expansion designed to
close to double production capacity to 520,000 tonnes. For more information about Sigma Lithium, visit our website
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE
CONTACT
Anna Hartley,
Vice President of Global Banking and Investor Relations
anna.hartley@sigmalithium.com.br
+44 7866 458 093
Mariana Bengtson,
Investor Relations Manager
mariana.bengtson@sigmalithium.com.br
+55 11 9 2144 2750
Sigma
Lithium
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FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
news release includes certain “forward-looking information” under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including
but not limited to statements relating to timing and costs related to the general business and operational outlook of the Company, the
environmental footprint of tailings and positive ecosystem impact relating thereto, donation and upcycling of tailings, timing and quantities
relating to tailings and Green Lithium, achievements and projections relating to the Zero Tailings strategy, achievement of ramp-up volumes,
production estimates and the operational status of the Grota do Cirilo Project, and other forward-looking information. All statements
that address future plans, activities, events, estimates, expectations, or developments that the Company believes, expects, or anticipates
will or may occur is forward-looking information, including statements regarding the potential development of mineral resources and mineral
reserves which may or may not occur. Forward-looking information contained herein is based on certain assumptions regarding, among other
things: general economic and political conditions; the stable and supportive legislative, regulatory and community environment in Brazil;
demand for lithium, including that such demand is supported by growth in the electric vehicle market; the Company’s market position
and future financial and operating performance; the Company’s estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves, including whether
mineral resources will ever be developed into mineral reserves; and the Company’s ability to operate its mineral projects including
that the Company will not experience any materials or equipment shortages, any labor or service provider outages or delays or any technical
issues. Although management believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable,
there can be no assurance that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information inherently involves
and is subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to that the market prices for lithium may not remain at current
levels; and the market for electric vehicles and other large format batteries currently has limited market share and no assurances can
be given for the rate at which this market will develop, if at all, which could affect the success of the Company and its ability to
develop lithium operations. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of
new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions
that could cause our actual results to differ from current expectations, please refer to the current annual information form of the Company
and other public filings available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange
nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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