Residents of the Jequitinhonha Valley say that the arrival of the Sigma Lithium mining company has brought new conflicts and problems to their communities.

According to them:

• The company's lithium mining activities in the region are said to have affected local communities' access to water;
• The consultation process with the communities is said to have been inadequate, resulting in conflicts and divisions;
• The employment opportunities offered by the company are said to be insufficient, with low pay and dependence on mining activities being available to few people.

We invited Sigma Lithium to respond, but the company did not. Sigma Lithium also did not respond to Mongabay.