Kodal Minerals PLC (AIM:LON:KOD) said production remains on track at the Bougouni lithium mine in Mali for the first quarter of 2025 with construction progressing on time and within budget.
The first of two crushing circuits has been commissioned with the second to start in weeks, while the steelwork from the main plant building is “essentially complete”.
Open pit mining at the Ngoualana deposit is ongoing with over 150,000 tonnes of ore grading on average 1.17% Li2O stockpiled in preparation for commissioning.
Bernard Aylward, Kodal’s chief executive, said: "The Bougouni processing plant construction continues to progress well with the installation of steelwork and equipment nearing completion.
"The focus has now shifted to the installation of the piping and electrical cabling at the DMS and filtration modules which are critical to starting full commissioning of the plant.
"On the exploration front, we are in the process of designing an in-fill and extension drilling programme for the Boumou deposit.
“Additional drill holes will be needed before we can embark on a full resource upgrade.
“Samples have been selected for a Boumou-specific metallurgical testwork programme, and both the DMS and flotation process routes will be explored.
“The potential for some parts of the Boumou deposit to feed the existing DMS facility could provide additional life for this Phase 1 installation."
Bouguoni is a 49/51% joint venture between Kodal and Chinese firm Hainan.