TSX-V-listed Lithium Africa has decided to advance the Springbok project, in South Africa’s Northern Cape province, toward the production of spodumene concentrate, targeting first production in the second half of 2027.

The company had been evaluating a direct shipping ore (DSO) sale of the existing stockpile of previously mined pegmatite at Norrabees I. Instead, it has decided to process that material, together with newly mined pegmatite, through an on-site dense media separation (DMS) plant.

The decision follows Lithium Africa’s review of two-stage DMS testwork on a 13 t bulk sample of stockpile material completed by a third party.

Mining at Norrabees I is already permitted under the project’s existing mining permit.

Construction of the DMS plant will require additional approvals and the company has started that process.

The project hosts a 5 ha mining permit over the historical Norrabees I mine, within a 1 675 km² prospecting right.

An initial mineral resource estimate (MRE) is being targeted for the first half of 2027 and a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) will follow.

First drill results at Norrabees I, within the mining permit, returned 7.5 m at 1.97% lithium oxide (Li₂O) from 18.5 m downhole (including 6 m at 2.27% Li₂O) and 4 m at 2.25% Li₂O from 2 m downhole, with individual samples up to 4.11% Li₂O (true widths not yet known).

These results, historical drilling, and ongoing drilling are expected to support the preparation of the MRE and PEA.

Lithium Africa is in preliminary, nonbinding discussions with potential counterparties regarding project-level financing for Springbok, including offtake, vendor financing and project-level equity, and is targeting a financing decision in the first half of 2027.

Cash flow from a modest DMS operation is intended to help fund exploration across the project and at the company’s broader African portfolio.

“Self-funding exploration through small-scale mining is a uniquely African way to explore for lithium, and it is how we intend to unlock the Springbok District. Lithium projects that can target production in 2027 are few and far between, and we believe Springbok is one of them: a permitted mine, with feeder material ready on surface.

“Our plan is designed to deliver real, non-dilutive value for Lithium Africa shareholders while advancing sustainable economic development in the Northern Cape,” says CEO Thomas Benson.