Mali: Green light for lithium exports from Bougouni via the port of Abidjan
The Malian government has granted Kodal Minerals an export permit for spodumene concentrate produced at the Bougouni site, which began operations in February 2025. This authorization ends more than six months of delays, as Bamako sought to ensure that lithium would be sold at market prices.
The British operator announced on Thursday, September 4, that the first shipments of 125,000 tonnes will soon head to the port of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) before being delivered to Chinese buyer Hainan Mining, the majority shareholder in the joint venture operating the mine.
The permit is subject to several conditions, including the use of Malian transport companies and the payment of applicable taxes and royalties. Kodal has already signed an agreement with a national transport company that will deploy its truck fleet to the site.
Another key requirement concerns pricing. Sales must be indexed to the Shanghai Metal Market (SMM) benchmark for 6% spodumene concentrate. However, Bamako reserves the right to “verify and adjust prices” to ensure transaction transparency.
By early August, more than 45,000 tonnes of concentrate had already been stockpiled at the site, awaiting shipment. “The granting of this license is a crucial step for Bougouni and for Mali’s emerging spodumene industry,” said Bernard Aylward, CEO of Kodal Minerals.
It should be noted that this permit does not cover the Goulamina mine, the country’s first lithium operation, which began production in December 2024. Majority-owned by China’s Ganfeng, Goulamina has an initial capacity exceeding 500,000 tonnes per year, compared with 125,000 tonnes at Bougouni.
