Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed subsequently hereto. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

Information regarding market and industry statistics contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is included based on information available to us that we believe is accurate. It is generally based on publications that are not produced for purposes of securities offerings or economic analysis. Forecasts and other forward-looking information obtained from these sources are subject to the same qualifications and the additional uncertainties accompanying any estimates of future market size, revenue and market acceptance of products and services. We have no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results or changes in assumptions or other factors that could affect those statements, except as required by federal securities laws. See Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” for a more detailed discussion of uncertainties and risks that may have an impact on our future results.

part I

Item 1. Business.

Sustainable Projects Group Inc. (“SPGX,” “we,” “us,” our” or the “Company”) is a pure-play lithium company focused on supplying high performance lithium compounds to the fast-growing electric vehicle (“EV”) and broader battery markets. We have developed a proprietary technology to extract lithium from oilfield wastewater, which we believe will enable us to manufacture lithium compounds quickly, at an attractive cost, and with a minimal environmental footprint, which we expect to provide us with a competitive advantage over other lithium manufacturers. We believe this competitive advantage will enable us to capitalize on the acceleration of vehicle electrification and renewable energy adoption.

We plan to start construction of our first two lithium carbonate manufacturing facilities in North Dakota and Ohio in the first half 2024, which we anticipate will be capable of manufacturing up to a total of 2,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (“LCE”), and we plan to begin manufacturing battery-grade lithium compounds at such facilities in the second half of 2025. No assurance can be given that we will be able to establish such facilities or begin manufacturing within this timeframe or at all.

On February 14, 2023, SPGX entered into a Securities Exchange Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Lithium Harvest ApS, a Denmark private limited liability company (“Lithium Harvest”), and all of the shareholders of Lithium Harvest (the “Shareholders”). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Lithium Harvest in exchange for issuing to the Shareholders 206,667,233 shares of SPGX’s common stock (the “Exchange Transaction”). The Exchange Transaction closed on February 14, 2023.

Prior to the Exchange Transaction, SPGX was a business development company engaged in project development and holdings through value-based investments and collaborative partnerships, including a joint venture relationship with Hero Wellness Systems Inc. (“Hero Wellness”) and a purchase agreement with the inventors of the Soy-yer Dough product line. During September 2022, SPGX decided to exit the joint venture with Hero Wellness, and following the Exchange Transaction, SPGX has not made final plans on the Soy-yer Dough project. We impaired our intangible assets associated with this project as of December 31, 2021, as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed December 12, 2023.

Overview

Our Technology and Products

Direct Lithium Extraction Technology. Our Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) technology enables us to extract and manufacture lithium compounds from oilfield wastewater in a few hours. Competing technologies typically extract and manufacture lithium compounds from brine or hard rock through processes that take up to two to three years. Our DLE technology also allows us to adjust production according to customer needs, which we believe puts us in a favorable position to meet growing demand.

Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide. We plan to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide for use in high performance lithium-ion batteries for EVs and broader battery markets. We plan to produce both standardized and customer specific compounds.

Our Growth Strategy

To fully capitalize on the growing demand for lithium compounds, our growth strategy will involve continued investment in manufacturing facilities, research and development, and our people. Essential features of our growth strategy include:

Competitive Strengths

We believe the following strengths underpin our ability to grow our business and profitability:

Our Market

The market for battery grade lithium compounds is global, and we plan to sell our products worldwide. Based on estimates by Benchmark Minerals, lithium demand is forecasted to rise from 350,000 tons in 2020 to more than 3 million tons in 2030 and over 7 million tons in 2040, with a positive long-term price trend estimate of $15,000 per ton for battery-grade Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide from 2025 to 2040. We believe that the continued electrification of transportation and transition to renewable energy sources will support continued significant growth in demand for lithium compounds over the next decade.

Raw Materials

Lithium

We plan to produce our lithium products from oilfield wastewater. The annual global production of produced water is more than 250 million barrels per day. The U.S. production of produced water is more than 50 million barrels per day. Not all produced water is suitable for lithium production, but we estimate that the current U.S. production of produced water is sufficient to produce more than 500,000 metric tons of LCE annually.

We plan to enter into long-term supply agreements with a leading midstream oil and gas company for the supply of lithium rich produced water for processing at our first two planned manufacturing facilities in North Dakota and Ohio. Further, we plan to enter into long-term lease agreements for the land on which these two facilities are planned to be constructed.

Water

All fresh water used in our production will be reused water from the production of oil and natural gas. We do not require any additional fresh water supplies.

Energy

Our production relies on a steady source of energy. We expect to use solar energy to the extent possible, but we will require an external supply of energy for our equipment.

Other raw materials

We use a range of raw materials and chemical intermediates in our production processes. We generally expect to satisfy our requirements through spot purchases but likely will rely on medium-to-long-term agreements for the supply of certain raw materials.

Generally, we are not expecting supply chain constraints, but temporary shortages of certain raw materials may occur and cause temporary price increases. During periods of high demand, our raw materials are subject to significant price fluctuations that may have an adverse impact on our results of operations. In addition, there could be inflationary pressure on the costs of raw materials.

Competition

Our products will compete with other lithium compounds available in the market. Many of our competitors are large companies with long-term experience in the industry. The market for battery grade lithium compounds faces barriers to entry, including access to a stable and sufficient supply of lithium feedstock, the ability to produce a sufficient quality and quantity of lithium, technical know-how, and sufficient lead time to develop new lithium mining projects. We believe that our DLE technology enables us to produce high quality products quickly, at an attractive cost, and with a minimal environmental footprint, which we believe will differentiate us from our competitors. We intend to continue to invest in research and development to further improve our products, develop new products, and build market share.

Intellectual Property

Our success depends in part upon our ability to protect and use our DLE technology and the intellectual property rights related to our DLE technology. On December 15, 2022, we received an “Intention to Grant” notification from the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. The Danish patent was granted during the first quarter of 2023 and will expire in 2032. Further, we have a pending application for a U.S./International patent.

Customers

We intend to sell our products to customers in the EV and broader battery markets, and plan to initially sell lithium locally to customers in the regions close to our manufacturing facilities.

Sales and Marketing

We intend to initially sell our products directly to customers in the U.S. and anticipate that we will subsequently sell our products to customers throughout North America, Asia and Europe.

Manufacturing

We intend to manufacture the lithium compounds we extract at our own facilities. We intend to construct our first two lithium carbonate manufacturing facilities in the first half of 2024, which we anticipate will be capable of manufacturing up to 500 and 1,000 metric tons of LCE.

Research and Development

We conduct research and development to optimize our DLE technology and our lithium products and to develop new product candidates and technologies.

Seasonality

Our operations are generally not impacted by seasonality. However, production is expected to be marginally lower during the summer due to the U.S. vacation season.

Government Controls and Regulations

We are subject to and will incur capital and operating costs to comply with U.S. federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing employee health and safety, the composition of our products, the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, and the management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes.

In June 2016, modifications to the Toxic Substances Control Act in the United States were signed into law, requiring chemicals to be assessed against a risk-based safety standard and for the elimination of unreasonable risks identified during risk evaluation. Other initiatives in Asia and potentially in other regions will require toxicological testing and risk assessments of a wide variety of chemicals, including chemicals used or produced by us. These assessments may result in heightened concerns about the chemicals involved and additional requirements being placed on the production, handling, labeling or use of the subject chemicals. Such concerns and additional requirements could also increase the cost incurred by our customers to use our chemical products and otherwise limit the use of these products, which could lead to a decrease in demand for these products.

To the extent we manufacture or import products into the European Union (“EU”) or downstream users of our products are located in the EU, we may be subject to the European Community Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (“REACH”). REACH imposes obligations on EU manufacturers and importers of chemicals and other products into the EU to compile and file comprehensive reports, including testing data, on each chemical substance, and perform chemical safety assessments. Currently, certain lithium products are undergoing a risk assessment review under REACH, which may eventually result in restrictions in the handling or use of lithium carbonate and other lithium products that we produce, which may increase our production costs. In addition, REACH regulations impose significant additional responsibilities and costs on chemical producers, importers, downstream users of chemical substances and preparations, and the entire supply chain. REACH, if applicable to the sale or manufacture of our products, may lead to increases in the costs of raw materials we may purchase and the products we may sell in the EU, which could increase the costs of our products and result in a decrease in their overall demand.

We use and generate hazardous substances and wastes in our operations and may become subject to claims and substantial liability for personal injury, property damage, wrongful death, loss of production, pollution and other environmental damages relating to the release of such substances into the environment. Depending on the frequency and severity of such incidents, it is possible that the Company’s revenues, operating costs, insurability and relationships with customers, employees and regulators could be impaired.

Human Capital Management

We had 14 full-time employees as of March 1, 2024. None of our employees are represented by a labor organization or are a party to a collective bargaining arrangement. We have not experienced any work stoppages, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.

Available Information

We file Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy and information statements and other reports required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC are available to the public free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Risks Related to Our Business

Demand and market prices for lithium will greatly affect the value of our investment in our lithium projects and our ability to develop them successfully.

The prices of commodities vary on a daily basis. Price volatility could have dramatic effects on the results of operations and our ability to execute our business plan. The year 2023 saw a significant decrease in lithium prices from recent highs of around $80,000 per ton to levels of around $13,500 per ton as of the date of this report. There are no guarantees that the price of lithium materials will rebound from current price levels. The price of lithium materials may also be reduced by the discovery of new lithium deposits and production methods, which could not only increase the overall supply of lithium (causing downward pressure on its price), but could draw new firms into the lithium industry that could compete with us. Even if commercial quantities of lithium are produced by us, there is no guarantee that a profitable market will exist for the sale of the lithium. The development of our projects will be significantly affected by changes in the market price of lithium-based end products, such as lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. Factors beyond our control may affect the marketability of any lithium produced. The prices of various metals have experienced significant movement over short periods of time and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including international economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, interest rates and global or regional consumption patterns, speculative activities and increased production due to improved mining and production methods. The supply of and demand for lithium is affected by various factors, including, among others, political events, economic conditions and production costs in major producing regions. Furthermore, the price of lithium products is significantly affected by their purity and performance, and by the specifications of end-user battery manufacturers. If the products produced from our projects do not meet battery-grade quality and/or do not meet customer specifications, pricing will be reduced from that expected for battery-grade product. In turn, the availability of customers may also decrease. We may not be able to effectively mitigate against pricing risks for our products. Depressed pricing for our products will affect the level of revenues expected to be generated by us, which in turn could affect our value, share price and the potential value of our properties. There can be no assurance that the price of lithium will be such that it can be produced at a profit.

Competition within our industry may adversely affect our businesses and results of operations.

We face strong competition from companies in connection with the production of lithium. Many of these companies have greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than us, and as a result, our competitors may be able to produce and sell lithium at a lower cost than us. Consequently, our prospects, revenues, operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

The development of non-lithium battery technologies could adversely affect us.

The development and adoption of new battery technologies that rely on inputs other than lithium compounds could significantly impact our prospects and future revenues. While current and next generation high energy density batteries for use in EVs rely on lithium compounds as a critical input, alternative materials and technologies are being researched with the goal of making batteries lighter, more efficient, faster charging and less expensive, and some of these technologies could be less reliant on lithium compounds. We cannot predict which new technologies may ultimately prove to be commercially viable and on what time horizon, but commercialized battery technologies that use no, or significantly less, lithium could materially and adversely impact our prospects and future revenues.

There is risk to the growth of lithium markets.

Our lithium business is significantly dependent on the continued growth in demand for lithium batteries for EVs and energy storage. To the extent that such development, adoption and growth do not occur in the volume and/or manner that we contemplate, including for reasons described under the heading “The development of non-lithium battery technologies could adversely affect us” above, the long-term growth in the markets for lithium products may be adversely affected, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our business is subject to hazards common to chemical and natural resource extraction businesses, any of which could injure our employees or other persons, damage our facilities or other properties, interrupt our production and adversely affect our reputation and results of operations.

Our business is subject to hazards common to chemical manufacturing, storage, handling and transportation, as well as natural resource extraction, including explosions, fires, severe weather, natural disasters, mechanical failure, unscheduled downtime, transportation interruptions, remediation, chemical spills, discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases and other risks. These hazards can cause personal injury and loss of life to our employees and other persons, severe damage to, or destruction of, property and equipment and environmental contamination. In addition, the occurrence of disruptions, shutdowns or other material operating problems at our facilities due to any of these hazards may diminish our ability to meet our output goals. Accordingly, these hazards and their consequences could adversely affect our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our operations as a whole, including our results of operations and cash flows, both during and after the period of operational difficulties.

Our business is subject to a number of operational risks.

We are subject to a number of operational risks and may not be adequately insured for certain risks, including, among others, environmental contamination, liabilities arising from historic operations, accidents or spills, industrial and transportation accidents, which may involve hazardous materials, labor disputes, catastrophic accidents, fires, blockades or other acts of social activism, changes in the regulatory environment, the impact of non-compliance with laws and regulations, natural phenomena such as inclement weather conditions, floods, earthquakes, ground movements, cave-ins, and encountering unusual or unexpected geological conditions and technological failure of exploration methods.

There is no assurance that the foregoing risks and hazards will not result in damage to, or destruction of, our property, personal injury or death, environmental damage, increased costs, monetary losses and potential legal liability and adverse governmental action. These factors could all have an adverse impact on our future cash flows, earnings, results of operations and financial condition.

The resource extraction business is cyclical in nature.

The resource extraction business and the marketability of the products it produces are affected by worldwide economic cycles. At the present time, the significant demand for lithium and other commodities in many countries is driving increased prices, but it is difficult to assess how long such demand may continue. Fluctuations in supply and demand of resources in various regions throughout the world are common.

As our business is in the development stage and as we do not carry on commercial-scale production activities, our ability to fund ongoing development is affected by the availability of financing which is, in turn, affected by the strength of the economy and other general economic factors.

Electronic vehicle regulations and economic incentives may impact our business.

Demand for lithium-based end products, such as lithium-ion batteries for use in EVs, may be impacted by changes to government regulation and economic incentives. Government and economic incentives that support the development and adoption of EVs in the U.S. and abroad, including certain tax exemptions, tax credits and rebates, may be reduced, eliminated or exhausted from time to time. For example, previously available incentives favoring EVs in areas including Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, and California have expired or were cancelled or made temporarily unavailable, and in some cases were not replaced or reinstituted. Any similar developments could have a negative impact on overall prospects for growth of the lithium market and pricing, which in turn could have a negative effect on us and our projects.

Our business depends on adequate infrastructure.

Resource extraction activities depend on adequate infrastructure. Reliable roads, bridges, and power sources are important determinants which affect capital and operating costs. Unusual or infrequent weather phenomena, sabotage, or community, government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure could adversely affect our operations, financial condition and results of operations.

Fluctuating construction costs can impact our business.

As a result of the substantial expenditures involved in resource extraction development projects, developments are prone to material cost overruns versus budget. The capital expenditures and time required to develop new projects are considerable and changes in cost or construction schedules can significantly increase both the time and capital required to build the project.

Construction costs and timelines can be impacted by a wide variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These include, but are not limited to, weather conditions, ground conditions, availability of material required for construction, availability and performance of contractors and suppliers, inflation, delivery and installation of equipment, design changes, accuracy of estimates and availability of accommodations for the workforce.

Project development schedules are also dependent on obtaining the governmental approvals necessary for the operation of a project. The timeline to obtain these government approvals is often beyond our control.

Our business could be adversely affected by environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.

The nature of our business exposes us to risks of liability under environmental laws and regulations due to the production, storage, use, transportation and sale of materials that can cause contamination or personal injury if released into the environment. In the jurisdictions in which we operate, or plan to operate, we are or will be subject to numerous U.S. and non-U.S. national, federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes and the cleanup of contaminated properties. Liabilities associated with the investigation and cleanup of hazardous substances, as well as personal injury, property damages or natural resource damages arising from the release of, or exposure to, such hazardous substances may be imposed in many situations without regard to violations of laws or regulations or other fault, and may also be imposed jointly and severally (so that a responsible party may be held liable for more than its share of the losses involved, or even the entire loss). Such liabilities may also be imposed on many different entities, including, for example, current and prior property owners or operators, as well as entities that arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substances. Such liabilities may be material and can be difficult to identify or quantify.

Further, some of the raw materials we handle are subject to government regulation. These regulations affect the manufacturing processes, handling, uses and applications of our products. In addition, our production facilities require numerous operating permits. Due to the nature of these requirements and changes in our operations, our operations may exceed limits under permits or we may not have the proper permits to conduct our operations. Ongoing compliance with such laws, regulations and permits is an important consideration for us, and we expect to incur substantial capital and operating costs in our compliance efforts. Compliance with environmental laws generally increases the costs of manufacturing, registration/approval requirements, transportation and storage of raw materials and finished products, and storage and disposal of wastes, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. We may incur substantial costs, including fines, damages, criminal or civil sanctions and remediation costs, or experience interruptions in our operations, for violations arising under these laws or permit requirements. Furthermore, environmental laws are subject to change and have become increasingly stringent in recent years. We expect this trend to continue and to require materially increased capital expenditures and operating and compliance costs.

We are subject to extensive foreign government regulation that can negatively impact our business.

We are subject to government regulation in non-U.S. jurisdictions in which we conduct our business, including Denmark, among others. These jurisdictions may have different tax codes, environmental regulations, labor codes and legal frameworks, which add complexity to our compliance with these regulations. The requirements for compliance with these laws and regulations may be unclear or indeterminate and may involve significant costs, including additional capital expenditures or increased operating expenses, or require changes in business practice, in each case that could result in reduced profitability for our business. Our having to comply with these foreign laws or regulations may provide a competitive advantage to competitors who are not subject to comparable restrictions or prevent us from taking advantage of growth opportunities. Determination of noncompliance can result in penalties or sanctions that could also adversely impact our operating results and financial condition.

Our inability to protect our intellectual property rights, or being accused of infringing on intellectual property rights of third parties, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We rely on the ability to protect our intellectual property rights and depend on patent, trademark and trade secret legislation to protect our proprietary know-how. There can be no assurance that we have adequately protected or will be able to adequately protect our valuable intellectual property rights, or will at all times have access to all intellectual property rights that are required to conduct our business or pursue our strategies, or that we will be able to adequately protect ourselves against any intellectual property infringement claims. There is also a risk that our competitors could independently develop similar technology, processes or know-how; that our trade secrets could be revealed to third parties; that any current or future patents, pending or granted, will not be broad enough to protect our intellectual property rights; or that foreign intellectual property laws will adequately protect such rights. The inability to protect our intellectual property could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We could face patent infringement claims from our competitors or others alleging that our processes or products infringe on their proprietary technologies. If we are found to be infringing on the proprietary technology of others, we may be liable for damages and we may be required to change our processes, redesign our products partially or completely, pay to use the technology of others, stop using certain technologies or stop producing the infringing product entirely. Even if we ultimately prevail in an infringement suit, the existence of the suit could prompt customers to switch to products that are not the subject of infringement suits. We may not prevail in intellectual property litigation and such litigation may result in significant legal costs or otherwise impede our ability to produce and distribute key products.

In addition to patents, we also rely upon unpatented proprietary manufacturing expertise, continuing technological innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. While we generally enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and third parties to protect our intellectual property, we cannot assure you that our confidentiality agreements will not be breached, that they will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets and proprietary manufacturing expertise or that adequate remedies will be available in the event of an unauthorized use or disclosure of our trade secrets or manufacturing expertise. In addition, our trade secrets and know-how may be improperly obtained by other means, such as a breach of our information technologies security systems or direct theft.

If we are unable to retain key personnel or attract new skilled personnel, it could have an adverse effect on our business.

Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain key personnel, including our management team. In light of the specialized and technical nature of our business, our performance is dependent on the continued service of, and on our ability to attract and retain, qualified management, scientific, technical, marketing and support personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and we may be unable to continue to attract or retain such personnel. In addition, because of our reliance on our senior management team, the unanticipated departure of any key member of our management team could have an adverse effect on our business. Our future success depends, in part, on our ability to identify and develop or recruit talent to succeed our senior management and other key positions throughout the organization. If we fail to identify and develop or recruit successors, we are at risk of being harmed by the departures of these key employees. Effective succession planning is also important to our long-term success. Failure to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and smooth transitions involving key employees could hinder our strategic planning and execution.

Risks Related to Our Financial Condition

We will need to raise additional capital to fund ongoing operations, and such capital raising may be costly or difficult to obtain and could dilute our stockholders’ ownership interests.

In order for us to fund ongoing operations, we will need to raise additional capital, which additional capital may not be available on reasonable terms or at all. Moreover, we will need to raise additional funds to accomplish the following:

Any additional capital raised through the sale of equity or equity-backed securities may dilute our stockholders’ ownership percentages and also could result in a decrease in the market value of our equity securities.

The terms of any securities issued by us in future capital transactions may be more favorable to new investors, and may include preferences, superior voting rights and the issuance of warrants or other derivative securities, which may have a further dilutive effect on the holders of any of our securities then outstanding.

In addition, we may incur substantial costs in pursuing future capital financing, including investment banking fees, legal fees, accounting fees, securities law compliance fees, printing and distribution expenses and other costs. We may also be required to recognize non-cash expenses in connection with certain securities we issue, such as convertible notes and warrants, which may adversely impact our financial condition.

Management has concluded that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, and the report of our independent registered public accounting firm contains an explanatory paragraph as to our ability to continue as a going concern, which could prevent us from obtaining new financing on reasonable terms or at all.

Because we have limited operations and have sustained operating losses resulting in a deficit, substantial doubt exists regarding our ability to remain as a going concern. Accordingly, the report of Centurion ZD CPA & Co., our new independent registered public accounting firm, with respect to our financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, includes an explanatory paragraph as to our potential inability to continue as a going concern. The doubts regarding our potential ability to continue as a going concern may adversely affect our ability to obtain new financing on reasonable terms or at all.

We are exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which may adversely affect our operating results.

We conduct our business and incur costs in the local currency of most of the countries in which we operate. Changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. Dollar will affect the recorded levels of our assets, liabilities, net sales, cost of goods sold and operating margins and could result in exchange losses. The primary currencies to which we have exposure are the Danish Krone and Euro. Exchange rates between these currencies and the U.S. Dollar in recent years have fluctuated significantly and may do so in the future. In addition to currency translation risks, we incur currency transaction risks whenever one of our operating subsidiaries enters into either a purchase or a sales transaction using a different currency from its functional currency. Our operating results may be affected by any volatility in currency exchange rates and our ability to manage effectively our currency transaction and translation risks.

Changes in, or the interpretation of, tax legislation or rates throughout the world could materially impact our results.

Our effective tax rate and related tax balance sheet attributes could be impacted by changes in tax legislation throughout the world.

Our future effective tax rates could be affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, expirations of tax holidays or rulings, changes in the assessment regarding the realization of the valuation of deferred tax assets, or changes in tax laws and regulations or their interpretation. Recent developments, including the European Commission’s investigations on illegal state aid, as well as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development project on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, may result in changes to long-standing tax principles, which could adversely affect our effective tax rates or result in higher cash tax liabilities.

We are and will be subject to the regular examination of our income tax returns by various tax authorities. Examinations in material jurisdictions or changes in laws, rules, regulations or interpretations by local taxing authorities could result in impacts to tax years open under statute or to foreign operating structures currently in place. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations or changes in laws, rules, regulations or interpretations to determine the adequacy of our provision for taxes. It is possible the outcomes from these examinations will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

Our required capital expenditures can be complex, may experience delays or other difficulties, and the costs may exceed our estimates.

Our capital expenditures generally consist of and will consist of expenditures to maintain and improve existing equipment, facilities and properties, and substantial investments in new or expanded equipment, facilities and properties. Execution of these capital expenditures can be complex, and commencement of production will require start-up, commission and certification of product quality by our customers, which may impact the expected output and timing of sales of product from such facilities. Construction of large chemical operations is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the ability to complete a project on a timely basis and in accordance with the estimated budget for such project and our ability to estimate future demand for our products. In addition, our returns on these capital expenditures may not meet our expectations.

Future capital expenditures may be significantly higher, depending on the investment requirements of any of our business lines, and may also vary substantially if we are required to undertake actions to compete with new technologies in our industry. We may not have the capital necessary to undertake these capital investments. If we are unable to do so, we may not be able to effectively compete in some of our markets.

Our business and financial results may be adversely affected by various legal and regulatory proceedings.

We may be involved in legal and regulatory proceedings, which may be material in the future. The outcome of proceedings, lawsuits and claims may differ from our expectations, leading us to change estimates of liabilities and related insurance receivables.

Legal and regulatory proceedings, whether with or without merit, and associated internal investigations, may be time-consuming and expensive to prosecute, defend or conduct, may divert management’s attention and other resources, inhibit our ability to sell our products, result in adverse judgments for damages, injunctive relief, penalties and fines, and otherwise negatively affect our business.

Due to material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to impairment of intangible assets associated with YER Brands Inc. and treatment of the reverse acquisition of Lithium Harvest on February 14, 2023 within the reporting of subsequent events, we had to restate our previously issued consolidated financial statements for several prior periods, which has resulted in unanticipated costs and may adversely affect investor confidence, our stock price, our ability to raise capital in the future and our reputation, and may result in stockholder litigation and regulatory actions.

We have incurred unanticipated costs for accounting and legal fees in connection with the restatements, and the restatements may have the effect of eroding investor confidence in our Company and our financial reporting and accounting practices and processes and may raise reputational issues for our business. The restatements may negatively impact the trading price of our securities and make it more difficult for us to raise capital on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the restatements and related material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting may also result in stockholder litigation against us, or adverse regulatory consequences, including investigations, penalties or suspensions by the SEC. Any such regulatory consequences, litigation, claim or dispute, whether successful or not, could subject us to additional costs, divert the attention of our management, or impair our reputation. Each of these consequences could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Securities

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, and this may make it difficult for you to resell the shares of common stock when you want or at prices you find attractive.

The price of our common stock as traded on the OTC Pink marketplace changes frequently. We expect that the market price of our common stock will continue to fluctuate. Our stock price may fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include, among others:

In addition, in recent years, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant effect on the market price of securities issued by many small-cap companies for reasons often unrelated to their operating performance. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect our stock price, regardless of our operating results.

We are subject to the penny stock rules adopted by the SEC that require brokers to provide extensive disclosure to their customers prior to executing trades in penny stocks. These disclosure requirements may cause a reduction in the trading activity of our common stock, which would likely make it difficult for our stockholders to sell their shares.

Rule 3a51-1 of the Exchange Act establishes the definition of a “penny stock,” for purposes relevant to us, as any equity security that has a minimum bid price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to a limited number of exceptions which are not available to us. This classification would severely and adversely affect any market liquidity for our common stock.

For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the penny stock rules require that a broker or dealer approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks and the broker or dealer receive from the investor a written agreement to the transaction setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased. In order to approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must obtain financial information and investment experience and objectives of the person and make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and that such person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks.

The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prepared by the SEC relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form, sets forth:

	●	the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination, and
	●	the fact that the broker or dealer received a signed, written agreement from the investor prior to the transaction.

Disclosure also has to be made about the risks of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and in secondary trading and commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and the rights and remedies available to an investor in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions. Finally, monthly statements have to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks.

Because of these regulations, broker-dealers may not wish to engage in the above-referenced necessary paperwork and disclosures and/or may encounter difficulties in their attempt to sell shares of our common stock, which may affect the ability of stockholders to sell their shares in any secondary market and have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in any secondary market. These additional sales practice and disclosure requirements could impede the sale of our common stock. In addition, the liquidity for our common stock may decrease, with a corresponding decrease in the price of our common stock. Our common stock, in all probability, will be subject to such penny stock rules for the foreseeable future and our stockholders will, in all likelihood, find it difficult to sell their common stock.

If we are unable to develop and maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, it could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We are required to provide a quarterly management certification and an annual management assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. As of December 31, 2023, we disclosed the following material weaknesses that have not yet been remediated: (1) we currently lack a functioning audit committee and lack a majority of outside directors on the Company’s board of directors, resulting in ineffective oversight in the establishment and monitoring of required internal controls and procedures; (2) we currently have inadequate segregation of duties consistent with control objectives; (3) we have insufficient written policies and procedures for accounting and financial reporting with respect to the requirements and application of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”) and SEC disclosure requirements; (4) we have ineffective controls over period end financial disclosure and reporting processes; (5) we have ineffective controls over timely impairments of intangible assets; and (6) we lack internal control over financial reporting in the controls over the accounting treatment of subsequent events.

In addition, due to the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, we have also determined that our disclosure controls and procedures are ineffective.

We cannot assure that the measures we have taken to date, and may take in the future, will be sufficient to remediate the control deficiencies that led to our material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting or that they will prevent or avoid potential future material weaknesses to be identified in the future. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting is subject to various inherent limitations, including cost limitations, judgments used in decision making, assumptions about the likelihood of future events, the possibility of human error and the risk of fraud. Any failure to design, implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and effective disclosure controls and procedures, or any difficulties encountered in their implementation or improvement, may result in additional material misstatements of our financial statements or cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and subject us to adverse regulatory consequences, including sanctions by the SEC or violations of applicable market or exchange listing rules.

There could also be a negative reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of investor confidence in our Company and the reliability of our financial statements, particularly in light of the restatement of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Confidence in the reliability of our financial statements could also suffer if we are unable to remediate our existing material weaknesses or report additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. This could materially adversely affect us and lead to a decline in the price of our common stock.

Future sales of our common stock in the public market or the issuance of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock could depress the price of our common stock.

Our Articles of Incorporation authorize our Board to issue shares of our common stock in excess of our current outstanding common stock. Any additional issuances of any of our authorized but unissued shares will not require the approval of stockholders and may have the effect of further diluting the equity interest of stockholders.

We may issue our common stock in the future for a number of reasons, including to attract and retain key personnel, to lenders, investment banks or investors in order to achieve more favorable terms from these parties and align their interests with our stockholders, to management and/or employees to reward performance, to finance our operations and growth strategy, to adjust our ratio of debt to equity, to satisfy outstanding obligations or for other reasons. If we issue securities, our existing stockholders may experience dilution. Future sales of our common stock, the perception that such sales could occur or the availability for future sale of shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock could adversely affect the market prices of our common stock prevailing from time to time. The sale of shares issued upon the exercise of any derivative securities could also further dilute the holdings of our then existing stockholders.

Our common stock is not currently traded at high volumes, and you may be unable to sell at or near ask prices if you need to sell or liquidate a substantial number of shares at one time.

Our common stock is currently traded, but with very low, if any, volume, based on quotations on the OTC Pink marketplace, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common stock at or near bid prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent. This situation is attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a small company which is still relatively unknown to investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we became more seasoned and viable. In addition, many institutional investors, which account for significant trading activity, are restricted from investing in stocks that trade below specified prices, have less than specified market capitalizations or have less than specified trading volume. As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. We cannot give you any assurance that a broader or more active public trading market for our common stock will develop or be sustained, or that trading levels will be sustained.

Shares eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market.

From time to time, certain of our stockholders may be eligible to sell all or some of their shares of our common stock by means of ordinary brokerage transactions in the open market pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, subject to certain limitations. Rule 144 permits, under certain circumstances, the sale of securities, without any limitation, by our stockholders that are non-affiliates that have satisfied a six-month holding period. Any substantial sale of our common stock pursuant to Rule 144 or pursuant to any resale prospectus may have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

Our directors, executive officers and controlling persons as a group have significant voting power and may take actions that may not be in the best interest of stockholders.

Our directors, executive officers and controlling persons as a group beneficially own approximately 89.9% of our common stock. They will have the ability to exert substantial influence over all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and any proposed merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, they could dictate the management of our business and affairs. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control, or impeding a merger or consolidation, takeover or other business combination that could be favorable to you. This significant concentration of share ownership may also adversely affect the trading price for our common stock because investors may perceive disadvantages in owning stock in a company with controlling affiliated stockholders.

We do not plan to pay dividends to holders of our common stock.

We do not anticipate paying cash dividends to the holders of our common stock at any time. Accordingly, investors in our securities must rely upon subsequent sales after price appreciation as the sole method to realize a gain on investment. There are no assurances that the price of our common stock will ever appreciate in value. Investors seeking cash dividends should not buy our securities.

General Risk Factors

Adverse conditions in the global economy, and volatility and disruption of financial markets, can negatively impact our business and results of operations.

Global financial conditions have been subject to continued volatility. Government debt, the risk of sovereign defaults, bank failures, political instability and wider economic concerns in many countries have been causing significant uncertainties in the markets. Disruptions in the credit and capital markets can have a negative impact on the availability and terms of credit and capital. Uncertainties in these markets could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, ability to raise capital and cost of capital. High levels of volatility and market turmoil could also adversely impact commodity prices, exchange rates and interest rates and have a detrimental effect on our business.

Global economic and geopolitical events, such as the war in Ukraine and sanctions imposed on Russia, the war in Gaza and higher energy costs coupled with supply concerns, have been disruptive to the world economy, with increased volatility in commodity markets, international trade and financial markets and oil and gasoline prices, all of which have a trickle-down effect on supply chains, equipment and construction. There is substantial uncertainty about the extent to which each of these events will continue to impact economic and financial affairs, as the numerous issues arising from each event are in flux and there is the potential for escalation of conflict within Europe, the Middle East and globally. There is a risk of substantial market and financial turmoil arising from further conflict, which could have a material adverse effect on the economics of our projects and our ability to operate our business and advance project development. There is also a risk of recession in the United States and elsewhere, which may cause decreases in asset values and may result in impairment losses, which could adversely impact our operations.

Our business and operations could suffer in the event of cybersecurity breaches, information technology system failures, or network disruptions.

Attempts to gain unauthorized access to our information technology systems become more sophisticated over time. These attempts, which might be related to industrial or other espionage, include covertly introducing malware to our computers and networks and impersonating authorized users, among others. In some cases, we might be unaware of an incident or its magnitude and effects. The theft, unauthorized use or publication of our intellectual property and/or confidential business information could harm our competitive position, reduce the value of our investment in research and development and other strategic initiatives or otherwise adversely affect our business. To the extent that any cybersecurity breach results in inappropriate disclosure of our customers’ or licensees’ confidential information, we may incur liability as a result. The devotion of additional resources to the security of our information technology systems in the future could significantly increase the cost of doing business or otherwise adversely impact our financial results.

In addition, risks associated with information technology systems failures or network disruptions, including risks associated with upgrading our systems or in successfully integrating information technology and other systems in connection with the integration of any businesses we acquire, could disrupt our operations by impeding our processing of transactions, financial reporting and our ability to protect our customer or company information, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Natural disasters or other unanticipated catastrophes could impact our results of operations.

The occurrence of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods or earthquakes, pandemics, or other unanticipated catastrophes at any of the locations in which we or our key partners, suppliers and customers do business, could cause interruptions in our operations. A global or regional pandemic or similar outbreak in a region of ours, our customers or our suppliers could disrupt business. If similar or other weather events, natural disasters or other catastrophic events occur in the future, they could negatively affect the results of operations at our sites in the affected regions as well as have adverse impacts on the global economy.

Our insurance may not fully cover all potential exposures.

Our insurance may not cover all risks associated with the hazards of our business and is subject to limitations, including deductibles and coverage limits. We may incur losses beyond the limits, or outside the coverage, of our insurance policies, including liabilities for environmental remediation. In addition, from time to time, various types of insurance for companies in the specialty chemical industry have not been available on commercially acceptable terms or, in some cases, have not been available at all. We are potentially at additional risk if one or more of our insurance carriers fail. Additionally, severe disruptions in the domestic and global financial markets could adversely impact the ratings and survival of some insurers. Future downgrades in the ratings of enough insurers could adversely impact both the availability of appropriate insurance coverage and its cost. In the future, we may not be able to obtain coverage at current levels, if at all, and our premiums may increase significantly on coverage that we maintain.

We may be exposed to certain regulatory and financial risks related to climate change.

Growing concerns about climate change may result in the imposition of additional regulations or restrictions to which we may become subject. Climate changes include changes in rainfall and in storm patterns and intensities, water shortages, significantly changing sea levels and increasing atmospheric and water temperatures, among others. A number of governments or governmental bodies have introduced or are contemplating regulatory changes in response to climate change, including regulating greenhouse gas emissions and the SEC’s recently announced rule to require public companies to make additional climate change related disclosures. Potentially, additional U.S. federal regulation will be forthcoming with respect to greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide) and/or legislation that could impact our operations. In addition, we may in the future have operations in the EU, which has agreed to implement measures to achieve objectives under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The outcome of new legislation or regulation in the U.S. and other jurisdictions in which we operate may result in new or additional requirements, additional charges to fund energy efficiency activities, and fees or restrictions on certain activities. While certain climate change initiatives may result in new business opportunities for us by increasing the demand for EVs and lithium-ion batteries, compliance with these initiatives may also result in additional costs to us, including, among other things, increased production costs, additional taxes, reduced emission allowances or additional restrictions on production or operations. Adopted future climate change regulations could also negatively impact our ability to compete with companies situated in areas not subject to such limitations. Even without such regulation, increased public awareness and adverse publicity about potential impacts on climate change emanating from us or our industry could harm us. We may not be able to recover the cost of compliance with new or more stringent laws and regulations, which could adversely affect our business and negatively impact our growth. Furthermore, the potential impact of climate change and related regulation on our customers is highly uncertain and there can be no assurance that it will not have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We may become party to litigation or other proceedings.

In the ordinary course of our business, we may become party to new litigation or other proceedings in local or international jurisdictions in respect of any aspect of our business, whether under criminal law, contract or otherwise. The causes of potential litigation cannot be known and may arise from, among other things, business activities, employment matters, including compensation issues, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, tax matters, failure to comply with disclosure obligations or labor disruptions at our project sites. Regulatory and government agencies may initiate investigations relating to the enforcement of applicable laws or regulations, and we may incur expenses in defending them and be subject to fines or penalties in case of any violation and could face damage to our reputation. We may attempt to resolve disputes involving foreign contractors/suppliers through arbitration in another country, and such arbitration proceedings may be costly and protracted, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition. Litigation may be costly and time-consuming and can divert the attention of management and key personnel from our operations and, if adjudged adversely to us, may have a material and adverse effect on our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.

We may have certain conflicts of interest.

Our directors and officers may become directors or officers of other mineral resource companies or reporting issuers or may acquire or have significant shareholdings in other mineral resource companies. To the extent that such other companies may participate in ventures in which we may participate or wish to participate, our directors and officers may have a conflict of interest with respect to such opportunities or in negotiating and concluding terms respecting the extent of such participation.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity.

Our Company prioritizes the security of our digital and physical operations. We have engaged with reliable software providers, implementing robust security measures, including two-factor authentication and the use of authenticators, among other tools, to enhance the security of our information systems and data integrity. These measures are part of our ongoing efforts to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and ensure the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of our critical information assets. We acknowledge the necessity of a formal cybersecurity risk management process to comprehensively address the evolving landscape of cyber threats. To this end, we are in the early stages of developing a structured cybersecurity framework that will guide our risk assessment, threat identification, and mitigation strategies. This framework will be designed to align with best practices in cybersecurity risk management and will be adapted as necessary to meet our specific operational needs and risk profile.

Management plays a crucial role in our cybersecurity posture. Our management team is actively engaged in identifying potential risk factors and threat vectors that could impact our operations. This involves continuous monitoring of our cybersecurity landscape and making informed decisions to address identified risks promptly. The company’s board of directors has oversight of the Company’s cybersecurity efforts and receives regular reports on the subject. We are aware of the potential risks associated with cybersecurity, including the risk of financial loss due to ransomware or phishing attacks, disruption in operations, and the theft of intellectual property. As our production plants are completed and become operational, we recognize the importance of enhancing our cybersecurity measures to protect against these and other threats. We are committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that includes not only technical defenses but also organizational policies and employee training to safeguard against a wide range of cyber threats.

In the absence of a formal cybersecurity committee, we plan to establish governance structures that will ensure oversight and strategic direction for our cybersecurity efforts. This will include regular reviews of our cybersecurity posture and adjustments to our strategy as the cyber threat landscape evolves. While no cybersecurity incidents have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition, we remain vigilant and proactive in enhancing our cybersecurity defenses. Our approach is one of continuous improvement, and we are committed to implementing best practices in cybersecurity risk management to protect our stakeholders and ensure the resilience of our operations against cyber threats. We describe how cybersecurity threats are likely to materially affect our Company, including our business strategy, results of operations, and financial condition, in the section titled “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.