South Star Battery Metals Announces Construction and Development Update for the Santa Cruz Graphite Mine in Bahia, Brazil

Rhea-AI Summary

South Star Battery Metals Corp. (TSXV: STS, OTCQB: STSBF) announced key updates on its Santa Cruz Graphite Mine project in Bahia, Brazil, with construction and commissioning scheduled for December 2023. Major equipment contracts are set to be finalized by January 2023, while environmental permitting for Phases 2 & 3 is on track for submission in early Q1 2023. The company is doubling production capacity to 50,000 tonnes per year across 11 mining claims, with work expected to complete in the next 12 months.

Positive

• Construction of Santa Cruz Graphite Mine on schedule for December 2023.
• Major equipment contracts locked in with down payments completed.
• Environmental permitting field work for Phases 2 & 3 completed.
• Production capacity doubling to 50,000 tonnes per year.

Negative

• None.

Highlights:

• Civil and earthworks contractors mobilized, and Santa Cruz is on schedule to complete construction and commissioning by December 2023.
• Majority of major equipment contracts signed and down payments completed to lock in equipment CAPEX. All major equipment contracts scheduled to be finalized in January 2023.
• Owners team mobilized and preparing for 12-month construction and commissioning.
• Field work for Phases 2 & 3 environmental permitting completed. On schedule to submit documentation in early Q1 2023.
• Request for definitive mining concession and the Planned Economic Analysis reports ("PAE") doubling production to 50,000 tonne per year ("tpy") of graphite concentrates for 11 of the 13 mining claims submitted to ANM for review and comment. All PAEs on schedule for submittal by January 2023.
• Initial field work for 3 lines of geophysics completed and in interpretation. Remaining field work expected to be completed in January 2023 and final report issued in February 2023.

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - South Star Battery Metals Corp. ("South Star" or the "Company") (TSXV: STS) (OTCQB: STSBD), is pleased to announce a construction and project development for the Santa Cruz Graphite Mine in Bahia, Brazil.

PHASE 1 CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

• The majority of the major equipment has been contracted and down payments made to lock in largest portion of Phase 1 capital expenditures ("CAPEX"). All major equipment contracts are on schedule to be signed by January 2023. Shop drawings are being finalized by equipment manufacturers, and final engineering documentation for construction is on schedule to be completed by February 10^th, 2023.
• Civil and earthworks contractors are under contract and mobilized. Civil infrastructure including initial offices, showers, bathrooms and other infrastructure is 50% completed and on schedule to be completed by January 6^th 2023. The earthworks contractor is mobilized, and clearing and topsoil stockpiling operations of the plant site are underway.

• The owners team is complete and mobilized to oversee the 12-month construction and commissioning schedule.

PHASES 2 & 3 PERMITTING AND LICENSING UPDATE

• The field work for the environmental permitting of Phases 2 & 3 has been completed, and the Company is on schedule to submit the permitting documentation/studies to the Municipality of Itabela, Bahia by the end of January 2023. The terms of reference and requested studies for Phases 2 & 3 are similar in process and substance to the Phase 1 environmental permitting process.
• Requests for definitive mining concession and the Planned Economic Analysis reports (PAE) doubling production to 50,000 tpy of graphite concentrates for 11 of the 13 mining claims have been submitted to Brazilian Mining Agency ("ANM") for review and comment. All 13 PAEs are planned to be submitted by January 2023.
• Permitting and licensing for Phases 2 & 3 are planned to be approved around the time the Phase 1 operations are in commissioning in Q4 of 2023.

EXPLORATION UPDATE

• The geophysics team has completed the field work for the first three lines of electrical resistivity ("ER") with 10m electrode spacing with an estimated penetration of 80-90 meters. The lines were completed on sections with known geology and graphite grades based on recent drilling program. The results are being interpreted and then will be compared to the known geologic sections and graphitic carbon ("Cg") grade. If the ER proves effective in identifying potential targets and mineralized zones/limits, then additional 3-4 kms of ER will be completed in January 2023. The results will be used to plan and prioritize the 2023 drilling program.

Richard Pearce, CEO of South Star, said, "We are closing out 2022 having reached another important milestone, and Phase 1 commercial production is planned for December 2023. It is great to be fully funded for Phase 1, as well as getting equipment purchased and contractors mobilized. Civil support infrastructure construction is about 50% complete, and clearing and stripping operations of the plant site are underway. We will be working through the end of the year and look forward to hitting the ground running so that 2023 will be a watershed moment for South Star, as we transition from a development project to an operating mine. We are confident in delivering on our promise to be the first new graphite production in the Americas since 1996. We will be posting regular updates, videos and photos on our social media and website, so that shareholders, stakeholders and potential clients have a clear vision of our path to production."

About South Star Battery Metals Corp

South Star Battery Metals Corp. is a Canadian battery metals project developer focused on the selective acquisition and development of near-term production projects in the Americas. South Star's Santa Cruz Graphite Project, located in Southern Bahia, Brazil is the first of a series of industrial and battery metals projects that will be put into production. Brazil is the second-largest graphite-producing region in the world with more than 80 years of continuous mining. Santa Cruz has at-surface mineralization in friable materials, and successful large-scale pilot-plant testing (>30t) has been completed. The results of the testing show that approximately 65% of Cg concentrate is +80 mesh with good recoveries and 95%-99% Cg. With excellent infrastructure and logistics, South Star is fully funded for Phase 1, and the 12-month construction and commissioning are underway.  Santa Cruz will be the first new graphite production in the Americas since 1996 with Phase 1 commercial production projected in Q4 2023.

South Star's next project in the development pipeline is a project in Alabama located in the middle of a developing electric vehicle, aerospace and defense hub in the southeastern United States.  The Project is a historic mine active during World Wars I & II.  Trenching, phase 1 drilling, sampling, analysis and preliminary metallurgic testing has been completed.  The testing indicated a traditional crush/grind/flotation concentration circuit achieved grades of approximately 94-97% with approximately 86% recoveries. South Star is executing on its plan to create a multi-asset, diversified battery metals company with near-term operations in strategic jurisdictions.  South Star trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol STS, and on the OTCQB under the symbol STSBF.

South Star is committed to a corporate culture, project execution plan and safe operations that embrace the highest standards of ESG principles based on transparency, stakeholder engagement, ongoing education and stewardship. To learn more, please visit the Company website at http://www.southstarbatterymetals.com.

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Richard Pearce, P.E., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of South Star Battery Metals Corp.

On behalf of the Board,

Mr. Richard Pearce 
Chief Executive Officer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/southstarbm
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: moving Santa Cruz into production and scaling operations as well as advancing the Alabama project; and the Company's plans and expectations.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

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SOURCE South Star Battery Metals Corp.

FAQ

What is the status of the Santa Cruz Graphite Mine project?

The Santa Cruz Graphite Mine is on schedule to complete construction and commissioning by December 2023.

What is the production capacity target for the Santa Cruz Graphite Mine?

The target is to double production to 50,000 tonnes per year for 11 of the 13 mining claims.

When will major equipment contracts be finalized for the Santa Cruz project?

All major equipment contracts are expected to be finalized by January 2023.

What is the timeline for environmental permitting submission for Phases 2 & 3?

Environmental permitting documentation for Phases 2 & 3 is on schedule for submission in early Q1 2023.