Operations Committee

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Brian Talbot

Mr. Talbot has an extensive track record as a technical and operational leader throughout his career with over 30 years of experience in mining operations. In particular, he has extensive experience in DMS (dense media separation) plant development and operation. Mr. Talbot is employed by RTEK International DMCC (“RTEK”), a consulting firm that advises lithium developers and producers. From July 2022 to September 2023, Mr. Talbot was the Chief Operating Officer at Sigma Lithium Corporation, a Canadian lithium producer with operations in Brazil. At Sigma Lithium, he oversaw the development of that company’s flagship Grota do Cirilo project from construction through commissioning and operations. From 2017 to 2022, Mr. Talbot held positions as General Manager and Head of Australian Operations at Galaxy Resources, now part of Arcadium Lithium PLC, one of the world’s largest fully integrated lithium companies. While at Galaxy Resources, Mr. Talbot was instrumental in increasing the production at Mt. Cattlin (a hard-rock lithium mine in Ravensthorpe, Western Australia) which resulted in record production. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Talbot was at Bikita Minerals in Zimbabwe, which owns and operates the longest running hard-rock lithium mine in the world. Mr. Talbot holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering with Honors from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Raimundo Almeida Jr.

Raimundo Almeida Jr. has served as Vice President of Lithium Processing at Atlas Lithium since December 2022. He brings 23 years of operations management experience in the mining industry, with expertise in processing plants for specialty minerals such as spodumene, tantalite/cassiterite, manganese, and gold.

Mr. Almeida has 14 years of hands-on experience with lithium ores. He previously helped manage the first flotation pilot plant for AMG Mining and oversaw the commissioning and operations of the dense media separation (DMS) pilot plant for Sigma Lithium. His well-rounded background includes roles at prominent mining companies like AMG Mining, Mineração Taboca, and Equinox Gold.

In addition to a Production Engineering undergraduate degree, Mr. Almeida holds a Business Administration master level degree and a post-graduate certification in Development Management from Fundação Dom Cabral in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

James Schloffer

James Schloffer is an experienced lead process engineer with 15 years of extensive experience in the mining and metals industry. Specializing in lithium processing, James has developed deep expertise in both hard rock concentration and downstream lithium hydroxide processing. Throughout his career, James has been involved in all facets of lithium processing, including DMS design, flotation, study work, metallurgical test work, detailed engineering design, commissioning, site operations, due diligence, and process optimization. His comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience make him a valuable asset in the field.

James has played pivotal roles in several significant lithium projects. In 2016, he worked in operations at the Mt Marion Lithium Mine. He was instrumental in designing the Bald Hill Lithium Mine, recently acquired by Mineral Resources, guiding the project from study phase through to operations and successfully commissioning it to nameplate capacity within just three weeks. His contributions extend to Sigma Lithium’s Detailed Feasibility Study, providing substantial input to this nearby project which is now successfully producing in operations. James has collaborated with a diverse range of clients, from Tier 1 companies like BHP to junior mining companies and both small and large engineering firms.

Most recently, James has been lending his expertise to Covalent Lithium at their Mt Holland mine, which incorporates both DMS and flotation processing. His global experience spans the Middle East, South and North America, Europe, and Australia, giving him a broad perspective on international mining operations and practices.

James holds a chemical engineering degree from the University of Melbourne.

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