Emerging lithium miner Sayona Mining Limited announced plans for a CAD 2 million (AUD 2.03 million) drilling program during Québec's late winter at the Company's flagship Authier Lithium Project and emerging Tansim Lithium Project, amid rapid growth in demand for the key battery metal. The new drilling program encompasses approximately 8,700m of drilling, representing around a 30% increase on previous drilling in the province, as Sayona seeks to expand its lithium resources to support a planned Abitibi regional hub. At Authier, the Company plans 31 drill holes for a total of 4,500m of diamond drilling, with a goal of expanding current ore resources and improving the strip ratio to enhance its profitability, as outlined in the project's revised Definitive Feasibility Study. In addition, 26 drill holes for approximately 4,200m are planned at the emerging Tansim project, comprising its ViauDallaire prospect (3,400m) and Viau prospect (approximately 800m). The new drilling aims to expand the lithium mineralisation at ViauDallaire following the initial Phase 1 diamond core drilling conducted in February 2019 and complete an initial JORCcompliant resource estimate. An initial drilling program is also proposed for the Viau prospect (6km eastsoutheast of ViauDallaire), with proposed drill holes based on historical geological data together with Sayona's reconnaissance survey undertaken in July 2018, which included four grab rock samples of up to 4.49% Li2O.