Tag Archives: Birimian

Mali Lithium enlists Lycopodium for Goulamina spodumene DFS

Australia-listed Mali Lithium has appointed Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd to complete the definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Goulamina lithium project, in Mali.

A July 2018 prefeasibility study on Goulamina outlined an open-pit hard rock mining operation with a 2 Mt/y concentrating plant. The project was scoped to produce 362,000 t/y of 6% Li2O spodumene concentrate over a 16-year mine life.

Mali Lithium, formerly Birimian, said Lycopodium was an obvious fit for Goulamina given the over 25 years of experience the company had with the development and execution of projects in Africa. “Lycopodium is a recognised leader in the delivery of mining projects with an exceptionally strong capability in the development of projects in West Africa,” the company added.

In Africa in the past two years alone, Lycopodium has designed, constructed and commissioned seven greenfield projects, and is also currently developing a further three process plants, according to Mali Lithium.

“Lycopodium’s appointment for this critical piece of project development work is testament to both the company’s commitment to, and the prospectivity of, the Goulamina lithium project,” Mali Lithium said, adding that its own in-house team will work closely with Lycopodium to develop the DFS.

Mali Lithium Managing Director, Chris Evans, said: “We are pleased to have secured a company of Lycopodium’s calibre, with a proven track record of delivering important pieces of work like the Goulamina DFS in a timely and efficient manner.

“We look forward to working closely with Lycopodium over the coming period and we are excited by what the outcomes of this DFS will be.”

Birimian charges DRA Global with flowsheet optimisation at Goulamina lithium project

ASX-listed lithium hopeful, Birimian, says it has selected DRA Global to provide engineering services to optimise the process flowsheet for the Goulamina lithium project in Mali.

The scope of work will include the following deliverables, Birimian said:

  • Review and interpretation of the metallurgical test work;
  • Process design criteria;
  • Mass and water balance;
  • Block flow diagram;
  • Process flow diagrams, and;
  • Mechanical equipment list.

Birimian said the work is key to developing and optimising the design of the process plant for Goulamina and to the subsequent production of a capital cost estimate to the +/-10% level of accuracy required for the definitive feasibility study (DFS). The DFS is due for completion in the March quarter of 2020.

DRA has recently been involved in the execution of number of lithium studies and projects, with the key personnel assigned to Birimian having played an integral role in the design and commissioning of three lithium projects in Western Australia in the last 12 months, Birimian said.

“[They] will contribute an unrivalled combination of knowledge and experience in an area which is crucial to the success of the Goulamina lithium project,” the company said.

The recommended development scenario as outlined in a 2018 updated prefeasibility study showed an open-pit mining operation and a 2 Mt/y mineral concentrating plant, able to produce 362,000 t/y of 6% Li2O spodumene concentrate. The maiden ore reserve came in at 31.2 Mt at 1.56% Li2O, which was derived from an indicated mineral resource of 43.7 Mt at 1.48% Li2O, supporting a 16-year operating life at 2 Mt/y.