FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUBMITTED FOR CINOVEC LITHIUM PROJECT
HIGHLIGHTS
· Full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Cinovec Lithium Project submitted to the Czech Ministry of the Environment on 31 December 2025
· Submission completes the two-stage EIA process following screening-stage assessment lodged in 2025
· EIA submission satisfies a key condition of the EU Just Transition Fund grant
· DFS recently confirmed a 26+ year mine life and forecast production of ~37,500tpa battery-grade lithium carbonate
· Project remains on track to meet the Just Transition Fund requirement for EIA approval by 30 June 2026
European Metals Holdings Limited (ASX and AIM: EMH, OTCQX: EMHXY/EMHLF) ("European Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to advise that the full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Cinovec Lithium Project (Project) was formally submitted to the Czech Ministry of the Environment (Ministry) on 31 December 2025.
The submission completes the two-stage EIA process, following lodgement of the screening-stage assessment earlier in 2025, and represents a key regulatory milestone for the Project.
This EIA covers the entire Cinovec development and supports the outcomes of the recently completed Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), which confirmed Cinovec as a long-life, large-scale European lithium project with a 26+ year mine life and forecast production of approximately 37,500 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium carbonate[1].
Review Process
The Ministry of the Environment will now commence its formal review of the EIA. The documentation is expected to be made publicly available for consultation later this quarter, with the Ministry to determine the timing for public submissions and hearings.
Scope of the EIA
The EIA identifies and assesses potential environmental impacts associated with the Project and outlines proposed mitigation and management measures, including monitoring requirements. It considers physical, biological and socio-economic factors from an environmental protection perspective and incorporates the technical modelling required under Czech and EU regulations.
EU Just Transition Fund Condition Met
Submission of the EIA satisfies a key condition of the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) grant
awarded to the Cinovec Project[2].
In April 2025, the Czech selection panel approved CZK 800 million (approximately US$36
million at the time) in grant funding. Conditions of the grant require:
ü Submission of the full EIA by 31 December 2025
· Approval of the EIA by the Czech Ministry of the Environment by 30 June 2026
Executive Chairman Keith Coughlan said:
"Submitting the full EIA is an important step forward for Cinovec and follows the completion of the DFS, which confirmed the scale, longevity and strategic importance of the Project. This strategic importance has been definitively unpinned by the ~EUR 360 million grant approved to the project recently.
Environmental approvals are critical to development in the Czech Republic, and meeting the EIA submission deadline was a key requirement under the Just Transition Fund. The Geomet team has done an excellent job delivering this work within the required timeframe and keeping the Project on schedule."
ENDS
This announcement has been approved for release by the Board.
CONTACT
For further information on this update or the Company generally, please visit our website at www.europeanmet.com or see full contact details at the end of this release.
ENQUIRIES:
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European Metals Holdings Limited Keith Coughlan, Executive Chairman
Kiran Morzaria, Non-Executive Director
Carly Terzanidis, Company Secretary |
Tel: +61 (0) 419 996 333 Email: keith@europeanmet.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7440 0647
Tel: +61 8 6245 2050 Email: cosec@europeanmet.com
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Zeus Capital Limited (Nomad & Broker) James Joyce/ Darshan Patel/ Chris Wardley (Corporate Finance) Harry Ansell (Broking)
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Tel: +44 (0) 203 829 5000
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BlytheRay (Financial PR) Tim Blythe Megan Ray
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Tel: +44 (0) 20 7138 3222
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Chapter One Advisors (Financial PR - Aus) David Tasker |
Tel: +61 (0) 433 112 936 Email: dtasker@chapteroneadvisors.com.au
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PROJECT OVERVIEW
Cinovec Lithium Project
Geomet s.r.o. controls the mineral exploration licenses awarded by the Czech State over the Cinovec Lithium Project. Geomet has been granted a preliminary mining permit by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Industry. The company is owned 49% by EMH and 51% by CEZ a.s. through its wholly owned subsidiary, SDAS. Cinovec hosts a globally significant hard rock lithium deposit with a total Measured Mineral Resource of 54.4Mt at 0.58% Li2O , Indicated Mineral Resource of 378.23Mt at 0.41% Li2O and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 309.49Mt at 0.39% Li2O containing a combined 7.45 million tonnes Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (refer to the Company's ASX/ AIM release dated 23 December 2025) (Cinovec DFS Confirms Long-life Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Producer Strategically Positioned to supply European EV and Energy-storage Sectors).
A Proven and Probable Ore Reserve of 54.4Mt at 0.58% Li2O has been declared to cover the first 26 years mining at an output of 37,500tpa of lithium carbonate (refer to the Company's ASX/ AIM release dated 23 December 2025) (Cinovec DFS Confirms Long-life Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Producer Strategically Positioned to supply European EV and Energy-storage Sectors).
The Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) confirmed the economic viability of the Cinovec Project with steady-state production of 37,500 tpa of battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃), representing ~5.2% of EU demand in 2030 and sufficient for >900,000 50kWh EV batteries annually. Cinovec will have a 28+ year operating life, underpinned by a 748Mt Resource @ 0.19% Li₂O and a 55.4Mt Ore Reserve, with expansion optionality (refer to the Company's ASX/ AIM release dated 23 December 2025) (Cinovec DFS Confirms Long-life Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Producer Strategically Positioned to supply European EV and Energy-storage Sectors).
This makes Cinovec the largest hard rock lithium deposit in Europe and by far the largest hard rock lithium deposit in the European Union.
Cinovec has been designated a Strategic Project by the European Union under the Critical Raw Materials Act (refer to the Company's ASX/ AIM release dated 25/26 March 2025) (Cinovec declared a Strategic Project under EU Critical Raw Materials Act) and a Strategic Deposit by the Czech Government (refer to the Company's ASX/ AIM release dated 7 March 2025) (Cinovec declared Strategic Deposit by Czech Government).
Cinovec has received recent impetus from the EU and the Czech Government in the form of grants of USD36 million from the EU Just Transition fund (refer to the Company's ASX/ AIM release dated 28 April 2025) (USD 36 million Just Transition Fund Grant Approved for Cinovec Project) and up to EUR360 million by the Czech Government (refer to the Company's ASX/ AIM release dated 7 March 2025) (Approval of up to €360 Million Czech Government Grant).
The deposit has previously had over 400,000 tonnes of ore mined as a trial sub-level open stope underground mining operation.
Cinovec is centrally located for European end-users and is well serviced by infrastructure, with a sealed road adjacent to the deposit, rail lines located 5 km north and 8 km south of the deposit, and an active 22 kV transmission line running to the historic mine. The deposit lies in an active mining region.
The Cinovec processing plant comprises of a Front-End Comminution and Beneficiation circuit (FECAB) and Lithium Chemical Plant circuit (LCP) in combination producing Lithium Carbonate end products and will be located on the Prunéřov 1 Power Station site located approximately 59km by rail from the Cinovec mine site (refer to the Company's ASX/ AIM releases dated 26 April 2024 (New Lithium Plant Site Expected to Improve Project Permitting and Economics) and 27 November 2024 (Cinovec Project Update)).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON CEZ
Headquartered in the Czech Republic, CEZ a.s. is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic and a leading energy group operating in Western and Central Europe. CEZ's core business is the generation, distribution, trade in, and sales of electricity and heat, trade in and sales of natural gas, and coal extraction. The foundation of power generation at CEZ Group are emission-free sources. The CEZ strategy named Clean Energy for Tomorrow is based on ambitious decarbonisation, development of renewable sources and nuclear energy. CEZ announced that it would move forward its climate neutrality commitment by ten years to 2040.
The largest shareholder of its parent company, CEZ a.s., is the Czech Republic with a stake of approximately 70%. The shares of CEZ a.s. are traded on the Prague and Warsaw stock exchanges and included in the PX and WIG-CEE exchange indices. CEZ's market capitalization is approximately EUR 28.2 billion.
As one of the leading Central European power companies, CEZ intends to develop several projects in areas of energy storage and battery manufacturing in the Czech Republic and in Central Europe.
CEZ is also a market leader for E-mobility in the region and has installed and operates a network of EV charging stations throughout Czech Republic. The automotive industry in the Czech Republic is a significant contributor to GDP, and the number of EV's in the country is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
COMPETENT PERSONS AND QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE AIM NOTE FOR MINING AND OIL & GAS COMPANIES
Information in this release that relates to the FECAB metallurgical testwork is based on, and fairly reflects, technical data and supporting documentation compiled or supervised by Mr Walter Mädel, a full-time employee of Geomet s.r.o an associate of the Company. Mr Mädel is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy ("AUSIMM") and a mineral processing professional with over 27 years of experience in metallurgical process and project development, process design, project implementation and operations. Of his experience, at least 5 years have been specifically focused on hard rock pegmatite Lithium processing development. Mr Mädel consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Mädel is a participant in the long-term incentive plan of the Company.
Information in this release that relates to exploration results is based on, and fairly reflects, information and supporting documentation compiled by Dr Vojtech Sesulka. Dr Sesulka is a Certified Professional Geologist (certified by the European Federation of Geologists), a member of the Czech Association of Economic Geologist, and a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Dr Sesulka consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Dr Sesulka is an independent consultant with more than 10 years working for the EMH or Geomet companies. Dr Sesulka does not own any shares in the Company and is not a participant in any short- or long-term incentive plans of the Company.
Information in this release that relates to metallurgical test work and the process design criteria and flow sheets in relation to the LCP is based on, and fairly reflects, information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Grant Harman (B.Sc Chem Eng, B.Com). Mr Harman is an independent consultant and the principal of Lithium Consultants Australasia Pty Ltd with in excess of 14 years of lithium chemicals experience. Mr Harman consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on his information in the form and context that the information appears. Mr Harman is a participant in the long-term incentive plan of the Company.
The information in this release that relates to Mineral Resources and Exploration Targets is based on, and fairly reflects, information and supporting documentation prepared by Mr Lynn Widenbar. Mr Widenbar, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists, is a full-time employee of Widenbar and Associates and produced the estimate based on data and geological information supplied by European Metals. Mr Widenbar has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Minerals Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Widenbar consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on his information in the form and context that the information appears. Mr Widenbar does not own any shares in the Company and is not a participant in any short- or long-term incentive plans of the Company.
The information that relates to production targets for the Cinovec Lithium Project is based on information compiled by Mr Graeme Fulton, a Competent Person who is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy. Mr Fulton is an Employee of Bara Consulting who are a consultant to the Company. Mr Fulton does not own any shares, options / performance rights in the Company and is not a participant in the Company's short or long-term incentive plan. Mr Fulton has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Mr Fulton consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, Ore Reserves, exploration and production targets, and forecast financial information, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the information in the relevant market announcements continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Information included in this release constitutes forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue", and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding plans, strategies and objectives of management, anticipated production or construction commencement dates and expected costs or production outputs.
Forward looking statements inherently involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company's actual results, performance, and achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which the company operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation.
Forward looking statements are based on the Company and its management's good faith assumptions relating to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect the company's business and operations in the future. The company does not give any assurance that the assumptions on which forward looking statements are based will prove to be correct, or that the company's business or operations will not be affected in any material manner by these or other factors not foreseen or foreseeable by the company or management or beyond the company's control.
Although the Company attempts and has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actual results, performance, achievements or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of the company. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Forward looking statements in these materials speak only at the date of issue. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant stock exchange listing rules, in providing this information the company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward looking statements or to advise of any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
LITHIUM CLASSIFICATION AND CONVERSION FACTORS
Lithium grades are normally presented in percentages or parts per million (ppm). Grades of deposits are also expressed as lithium compounds in percentages, for example as a percent lithium oxide (Li2O) content or percent lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) content.
Lithium carbonate equivalent ("LCE") is the industry standard terminology for, and is equivalent to, Li2CO3. Use of LCE is to provide data comparable with industry reports and is the total equivalent amount of lithium carbonate, assuming the lithium content in the deposit is converted to lithium carbonate, using the conversion rates in the table included below to get an equivalent Li2CO3 value in percent. Use of LCE assumes 100% recovery and no process losses in the extraction of Li2CO3 from the deposit.
Lithium resources and reserves are usually presented in tonnes of LCE or Li.
The standard conversion factors are set out in the table below:
Table: Conversion Factors for Lithium Compounds and Minerals
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Convert from |
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Convert to Li |
Convert to Li2O |
Convert to Li2CO3 |
Convert to LiOH.H2O |
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Lithium |
Li |
1.000 |
2.153 |
5.325 |
6.048 |
|
Lithium Oxide |
Li2O |
0.464 |
1.000 |
2.473 |
2.809 |
|
Lithium Carbonate |
Li2CO3 |
0.188 |
0.404 |
1.000 |
1.136 |
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Lithium Hydroxide |
LiOH.H2O |
0.165 |
0.356 |
0.880 |
1.000 |
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Lithium Fluoride |
LiF |
0.268 |
0.576 |
1.424 |
1.618 |