Aim-listed Kodal Minerals has received the export permit for the spodumene concentrate produced at its Bougouni lithium project, in southern Mali, for an initial 125 000 t of spodumene concentrate, subject to the continuation of final administrative steps for the export process.
The project is operated by the local Mali registered mining company, Les Mines de Lithium de Bougouni (LMLB) – a subsidiary of Kodal Mining UK, in which Kodal has a 49% shareholding.
The letter confirming the permit was authorised by the Ministry of Mines and signed by the Mines Minister Professor Amadou Keita.
“The granting of the export licence is a critical step for the development of the Bougouni project, as well as Mali’s burgeoning spodumene industry.
“The permit further underpins the continued support of the Mali Ministry of Mines and the government and their interest in the further development and expansion of Bougouni,” says Kodal CEO Bernard Aylward.
The letter specifies confirmation of the pricing mechanism based on the Shanghai Metal Market (SMM) reference price for spodumene, without prejudice to the administration's right to verify and correct prices.
The company says it can confirm that the offtake agreement finalised for the project uses the SMM as the reference for pricing.
Moreover, the project has signed a transport contract with a leading Malian transport company for the export of material from site to the port location in Côte d’Ivoire.
The company says all taxes, duties and levies will be paid when due.
Aylward notes that final administrative processes will be completed imminently and the mobilisation of the trucking fleet to site will start as soon as possible. 
