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.”