Name of the Project
Bougouni lithium project.

Location
The project is located in southern Mali.

Client
Birmian.

Project Description
A scoping study completed on the Bougouni project has confirmed the outstanding potential of the project.

The study has evaluated the technical and potential economic viability of an openpit mine development at the project’s Goulamina deposit, where a maiden mineral resource of 15.5-million tonnes at a grade of 1.48% lithium oxide (Li₂O) has been defined.

Various processing options have been considered to optimise throughput capacity and recoveries. The current preferred option is to develop Goulamina as a one-million-tonne-a-year high-grade openpit mine to supply material to a conventional dense-media separation plant (DMS) Stage 1.

Scope has been defined to transition the processing plant to treat medium-grained material by DMS and flotation in later years (Stage 2).

Stage 2 will comprise the addition of a 450 000 t/y grinding and flotation concentrator to process fines and secondary DMS floats that contain economic lithium grades from finer-grained spodumene bearing rock. Subject to further detailed studies, the project could deliver average yearly production of about 190 000 t of 6% Li₂O concentrate over an initial 13-year life-of-mine.

Jobs to be Created
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
Initial start-up capital has been estimated at $47.2-million and includes associated project infrastructure.

Stage 2 capital costs have been estimated at $36.2-million, which could potentially be funded by Stage 1 cash flow.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
As a result of the positive scoping study, Birmian has approved the immediate start of the project prefeasibility study (PFS).

The PFS and the maiden reserve statement are expected to be completed in the June quarter.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Birmian, tel +61 8 9286 3045, fax +61 8 9226 2027 or email info@birimian.com.