Name of the Project
Bougouni lithium project.

Location
The project is located in southern Mali.

Project Owner/s
Kodal Minerals.

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

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 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) in Stage 1.

The 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% lithium oxide concentrate over an initial 13-year life-of-mine.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
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 cashflow.

Planned Start /End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Kodal Minerals has received approval for the environmental- and social-impact assessment (Esia) application for its Bougouni lithium project.

The finalisation of the mining assessment and the submission of technical reports to lodge the mining licence application are expected by the end of the year.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Zivvo (consultant).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Kodal Minerals, tel +61 418 943 345.