PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Lycopodium has been awarded a A$22.7-million engineering procurement (EP) and associated project management (PM) services contract at the Goulamina lithium project, in Mali.
A final investment decision on the Goulamina project was taken in January this year, and owner Leo Lithium is aiming to start mechanical construction and electrical installation in the second half of 2023, with commissioning and startup slated for the first half of 2024.
It is estimated that the project will require an initial $225-million investment for the Stage 1, 2.3-million-tonne-a-year development, producing 506 000 t of spodumene concentrate a year, increasing to 880 000 t/y in Stage 2, for a further investment of $70-million.
The project is expected to have a minimum mine life of 21 years, producing 15.6-million tonnes of spodumene concentrate over that period.
Lycopodium has been involved since the original feasibility study in 2019, and provided an updated definitive feasibility study in 2021. Engineering design and procurement and contracting activities have progressed throughout 2022, including the procurement of long-lead items, enabling Lycopodium to transition seamlessly into the execution phase.
The EP and PM contract will be executed over the next 18 to 24 months.