St-Georges, Coalia process spodumene concentrate

Executive Summary

• St-Georges Eco-Mining’s subsidiary, St-Georges Metallurgy Corp. (SXM), provided an operational update on the commissioning and processing progress of its lithium pilot plant in collaboration with technology partner Coalia.
• The pilot plant has successfully processed approximately three tonnes of spodumene concentrate during the leaching phase, with preliminary laboratory tests showing encouraging lithium recovery kinetics.
• Key infrastructure upgrades, including a new filter press that doubles filtration capacity, have been installed, while the first purification stage is expected to be commissioned within the coming weeks.

Key Details

• Feedstock Received: SXM received approximately five tonnes of spodumene concentrate from Canadian mining operations and approximately 900 kilograms of lithium-ion-battery black mass for future processing.
• Processing Status: Approximately three tonnes of spodumene concentrate have been processed at the leaching phase to date; operations are progressing as planned.
• Infrastructure Upgrades: A new filter press has been installed, effectively doubling filtration capacity to support increased throughput.
• Purification Stage: The installation of the first purification stage (critical for lithium solution concentration) is mostly complete but pending delivery of a required transformer; final commissioning is expected within the coming weeks.
• Technical Results: Preliminary leaching tests validated process conditions, demonstrating encouraging lithium recovery kinetics and controlled residue behavior.
• Future Testing Schedule:
  • Comprehensive leaching test results from pilot-scale spodumene campaigns are expected toward the end of March.
  • Pilot-scale black mass leaching tests are anticipated to follow in early April.
• Funding: Natural Resources Canada is supporting Coalia's lithium pilot plant project with a $4.0-million investment through the critical mineral research, development, and demonstration program.
• Next Steps: Completion of the first purification stage, continued spodumene pilot campaigns, initiation of black mass leaching tests, and release of comprehensive pilot-scale results in the second quarter of 2026.

Notable Quotes

• Mathieu Boudreau, PEng and scientist at Coalia: "The preliminary laboratory work provided a strong foundation for pilot operations, and the commissioning progress achieved to date is encouraging. The installation of additional filtration capacity and the upcoming evaporation stage will position the pilot plant to generate comprehensive pilot-scale results in the coming months."
• Frank Dumas, St-Georges's chairman: "The SXM pilot plant continues to advance through commissioning with increasing throughput and infrastructure upgrades. Processing Canadian spodumene feedstock reinforces the strategic relevance of this program and supports the development of domestic lithium processing capabilities."