Kodal Minerals Achieves First Spodumene Concentrate Production at Bougouni

Kodal Minerals plc has announced the successful production of its first spodumene concentrate at the fully-funded Bougouni Lithium Project in Southern Mali. This milestone was achieved during the commissioning phase of the Stage 1 Dense Media Separation (DMS) processing plant, with pegmatite ore introduced into the circuit. The initial concentrate graded at 5.53% Li(2)O, aligning with the project's production targets and achieved ahead of schedule.

The commissioning process has progressed through multiple stages, including water commissioning, ore introduction, and fine-tuning of processing circuits. The plant is now ramping up to nameplate capacity, with 24/7 operations underway. Construction costs remain within the $65 million budget, with only minor optimizations pending.

Mining activities at the Ngoualana deposit have built a run-of-mine stockpile of over 350,000 tonnes of ore, averaging 1.17% Li(2)O, ready for processing. This stockpile ensures a steady supply of ore as the plant ramps up production.

Bernard Aylward, CEO of Kodal Minerals, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, “The first production of spodumene concentrate at Bougouni marks a major milestone for Kodal. We are confident that this progress will continue into the commercial production phase, and our team is focused on achieving our target of 10,000 tonnes per month.”

Kodal expects to reach steady-state production in the coming weeks and plans to ship its first batch of lithium spodumene concentrate to Hainan, China, by the end of March 2025. The transfer of the mining license has been lodged and accepted by the Mali Mines Department, with final compliance stages near completion.