Sedgman Drives Critical Minerals Delivery Across Continents

Sedgman, an ACS Group subsidiary, has secured its place as an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) partner for critical minerals projects spanning lithium, rare earths and base metals across three continents. 

Recent appointments in Brazil, Canada and Europe underscore the contractor’s strategy of pairing global technical depth with local delivery capability to de-risk complex brownfield and greenfield developments.

It is clear that Sedgman is scaling an integrated, engineering-led model that moves from feasibility and detailed design through procurement, construction management and commissioning. 

That end-to-end remit, combined with long-term partnerships and selective acquisitions, is reshaping how owners approach schedule certainty, cost control and operational ramp-up in the energy transition era.

De-risking Brazil’s Colossus rare earths project

In September 2026, Viridis Mining & Minerals appointed Sedgman, alongside Brazilian engineering partner Blossom Consultoria e Assessoria, as the preferred EPCM contractor for the Colossus Rare Earth Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. 

The arrangement begins with a pre–final investment decision (FID) bridging phase, under which Sedgman will undertake detailed engineering design and procurement activities ahead of FID. 

It will then continue to provide EPCM services with Blossom through execution, commissioning and operational ramp-up.

For owners, the early engineering maturity created during the bridging phase is intended to de-risk the project schedule and enable a rapid transition into full execution following FID.

Viridis has approved up to US$3m for the pre-FID bridging phase, with the full EPCM appointment subject to final contractual terms and FID. 

The integrated Sedgman–Blossom model is designed to combine Sedgman’s international minerals processing expertise with Blossom’s established project delivery capabilities in Brazil.

With an estimated total investment of US$450m, the Colossus development targets 2028 production. 

It would position the project as an important new source of diversified supply of both light and heavy rare earths outside China.

Lithium infrastructure in Europe & North America

Sedgman’s European footprint has expanded through a strategic partnership with Vulcan Energy on the Lionheart Project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. 

In December 2025, ACS Group announced that Sedgman and HOCHTIEF Infrastructure, another one of its subsidiaries, had won the contract for Vulcan’s €397m (US$437m) Lithium Extraction Plant and €337m (US$371m) Central Lithium Plant. 

The plants will together produce 24,000 tonnes-per-year of battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate from geothermal brine, with zero fossil fuels used in the production process.

“The Lionheart Project is a flagship initiative for Europe’s clean energy future – combining lithium production with renewable energy generation. It is a strategic, high-impact project that aligns with our Group’s global capabilities in energy infrastructure,” says Juan Santamaría, ACS Group’s CEO.

In North America, Sedgman is supporting lithium producer Elevra, with the staged expansion of the North American Lithium (NAL) operation in Québec, Canada, through an ongoing feasibility study and a detailed design mandate for a stage one expansion to process 4,500 tonnes per day of spodumene ore. 

The scope includes enhancements across the existing concentrator – crushing, milling, magnetic separation, flotation, filtration, dewatering and ore sorting – aimed at increasing throughput and improving overall plant performance.

“We’re proud to support Elevra in advancing this important North American lithium asset. Our global experience in lithium, combined with Sedgman’s proven capability in delivering complex brownfield expansions, positions us to support a robust and practical expansion aligned with their accelerated development objectives,” says Grant Fraser, Sedgman Managing Director.

Engineering-led growth through targeted acquisition

Sedgman’s North American growth trajectory was further accelerated in early 2026 with the acquisition of Arizona-based engineering consultancy FSI Engineering and Design. 

The deal strengthens Sedgman’s ability to deliver end-to-end EPCM services in the United States, a region experiencing rapid growth in demand for clean energy and strategic materials.

The combined entity, operating as Sedgman FSI, supports clients across North America with scalable talent and deep technical expertise in critical and precious minerals, alongside services in the energy and industrial chemicals sectors. 

Sedgman’s key partners 

Blossom Consultoria e Assessoria

Sedgman’s Brazilian partner brings established engineering and project execution capability in Minas Gerais, underpinning the integrated Sedgman–Blossom delivery model for Colossus.

Vulcan Energy

Sedgman and HOCHTIEF Infrastructure are delivering Vulcan’sLionheart Project’s lithium extraction and central processing plants, supporting Europe’s first zero-fossil-fuel lithium hydroxide production at scale.

HOCHTIEF Infrastructure

Through a joint venture with Sedgman, HOCHTIEF is co-delivering the Lionheart EPCM scope and has become a cornerstone investor in Vulcan Energy.