Kodal Minerals PLC (AIM: KOD) has announced the official opening of the Stage 1 Bougouni Lithium Project in southern Mali on 3 November 2025, officiated by President General Assimi Goïta.
The project, operated through Kodal Mining UK (KMUK) — in which Kodal holds a 49% interest and the Government of Mali holds a 35% direct stake — began construction in mid-2024 and achieved first production in February 2025.
Since commissioning, the project has produced more than 45,000 tonnes of high-grade spodumene concentrate containing 5.53% Li₂O. Its Dense Media Separation (DMS) plant is designed to process 1 million tonnes of lithium ore per annum, providing a scalable foundation for future expansion.
Kodal said the presidential inauguration marks a major milestone in its transition from developer to West Africa’s newest lithium producer, reinforcing Mali’s position as an emerging contributor to the global battery metals supply chain.
Bernard Aylward, CEO of Kodal Minerals, remarked:
“I am delighted to have attended the opening today and observed the strong support of the President of the Republic of Mali, General Assimi Goïta, government dignitaries and representatives from the communities in which we operate. I noted particularly the comments of the Chief of Ngoualana referring to the opportunities the new development provides and stating his belief that this was the greatest day for his village.
“In partnership with Hainan, the Bougouni operations team has delivered our flagship critical minerals project, both on time and within our US$65 million capital budget. This is no small achievement, and I want to give a heartfelt thanks to Steve Zaninovich, Kodal’s Operations Director and Jerry Gao, Hainan VP of Operations, who have led our dedicated 650-strong team of employees, 95% of which are Malian nationals – a number we can be extremely proud of. Our Project will deliver direct and indirect benefits to not only the local community here at Bougouni but also nationally to the wider Malian economy. It was very pleasing to see the happiness of all of our team present at the opening and the recognition of this achievement.
“I also want to offer our thanks to President Goïta, Professor Amadou Keita and General Wele, whose steadfast support has helped us advance and complete the first stage of the Bougouni Project. Lithium is still a relatively new commodity in Mali and with a production target of 125,000 tonnes annually for Stage 1, I look forward to our Bougouni Project significantly contributing to the national output of the country’s ‘white gold’, with further plans to almost double output for Stage 2, which is currently in the planning phase.”
