Kodal Minerals PLC (AIM:KOD) CEO Bernard Aylward speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive at the end of a year he describes as "fantastic" for the company and its effort to develop the Bougouni Lithium Project in southern Mali.
He says a transformative joint venture with Hainan Mining has fully funded the development of Bougouni, prompting the start of its construction. Kodal also grew its resource base by over 40% due to successful drilling programs, with more exploration work still to come.
He touches on negotiations with Hainan Mining, which were initially expected to be swift but encountered bureaucratic delays. However, with regulatory approvals and restructuring, the deal was finalised in November. Aylward remains optimistic about starting production by late 2024, transitioning Kodal from an explorer to a lithium producer.
He stresses the company's consistent communication and strong relationship with shareholders, emphasising the year's transformational impact. Aylward concludes by expressing gratitude for the support since 2016 and anticipated further developments, extending holiday wishes to the interviewer and viewers.