Kodal Minerals PLC (AIM:KOD) told investors it is continuing to work closely with the government of Mali to finalise the requirements for an export permit, which promises to unlock value for the Bougouni lithium project.
The company, in a statement, reported that Mali’s Minister of Mines and the Governor of the Bougouni Region visited the project, where stockpiles are building ahead of anticipated export to China.
Kodal, meanwhile, noted that the project’s Dense Media Separation plant is continuing to process pegmatite ore with improvements underway.
Spodumene concentrate output has exceeded 45,000 tonnes and is ready for export.
Preparations for the first shipment include discussions with ports in Côte d'Ivoire.
Open-pit mining at Ngoualana is ongoing but has been affected by heavy rainfall, restricting access to lower pit levels.
The company is preparing for a maintenance shutdown in late August to enable systematic checks and upgrades to the plant.
“Once granted, the export permit will allow, inter alia, the transportation of the large stockpiles of spodumene concentrate to ports for shipment to China,” chief executive Bernard Aylward said in a statement.
“The recent visit by the Malian Minister of Mines, Professor Amadou Keita, and the Governor of the Bougouni region, General Ousmane Wele, was received positively and highlighted the team's excellent work to reach this stage.”