Kodal Minerals has completed and lodged an environmental- and social-impact assessment (Esia) for the proposed openpit mining and processing operation at its Bougouni lithium project, in southern Mali.
“The submission of the Esia signals the achievement of another significant milestone for Kodal as we continue to focus on the development of the Bougouni lithium project,” CEO Bernard Aylward said in a statement issued on Friday.
The formal Esia submission to the Mali government authorities represents the first critical step in the process of obtaining a mining licence.
It comprises an overarching project review and assessment, as well as specialist environmental baseline studies, which have already started, and is combined with the community consultation process, which has been successfully completed.
“The ongoing support we have received from the Mali government and local community has been very encouraging and demonstrates the significant interest in our project’s development,” said Aylward.
He indicated that the company’s focus continued to be on completion of a feasibility study that would be key to its application to obtain a mining licence at Bougouni.
“We continue to strengthen our relationship with the Malian administrations, communicating regularly with local communities and authorities, from whom we are receiving excellent support,” he said.
The company expects to provide an update on the engineering and processing study next week and will also include an update on the expected shipping of the bulk sample material currently in Dakar.
The bulk sample has been fully prepared for shipping and the company has negotiated with a shipping firm for it to be transported to China; however, the company is awaiting the arrival of the ship.