Atlantic Lithium Limited, the African-focused lithium exploration and development company targeting to deliver Ghana’s first lithium mine, has provided a progress update with regards to the development of the company’s flagship Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghana, West Africa.
Highlights
- Bulk Customer Permit awarded in respect of the electricity requirements of the company’s Ewoyaa Lithium Project, expected to deliver a 30 – 50% overall power cost reduction for the Project.
- Key contracts on the critical path for the Project progressing, including:
- Advanced discussions ongoing for the award of the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management (EPCM) contract for the main processing plant and all non-processing infrastructure;
- Tender stage underway to appoint a mining contractor and for the procurement of the modular Dense Media Separation (DMS) unit, respectively;
- Tender stage to commence imminently for the procurement of the mobile crusher to feed the modular DMS unit; and
- Award of the contract to divert the transmission lines crossing the Project site expected in 2Q24.
- Completion of the Flotation Scoping Study; results confirm the viability of the inclusion of a downstream flotation circuit at Ewoyaa for future value addition.
- Maiden feldspar Mineral Resource Estimate expected in 4Q23; in line with the Feldspar Study underway to evaluate the viability of the production of feldspar as a by-product of spodumene production at the Project.
- Work underway with Engineering Procurement and Construction firm Mincore to assess the potential to establish a downstream lithium conversion plant in Ghana, as agreed under the terms of the grant of the Mining Lease for the Project.
- Appointment of three General Managers, including General Manager, Operations, as the company steps up recruitment to strengthen its leadership team, with a focus on mine build and operating experience, as it transitions from explorer and developer to producer.
Commenting on the company’s latest progress, Keith Muller, Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Lithium, said:
“Following the grant of the Mining Lease in October 2023, we are now firmly on the path towards building Ewoyaa as Ghana’s first lithium mine. Alongside our ongoing, recently extended exploration programmes, which continue to add value to the Project, excellent progress is being made towards achieving shovel readiness.
“The permitting phase is well underway, with active engagement with local stakeholders within and surrounding the Project’s Lease Area. In October, we held the inaugural Community Consultative Committee meeting, whereby we welcomed the open discussion of how the Project can benefit the local community. Ever since the company began operating in Ghana, the local population has shown incredible backing for the Project, and this continues even as we near construction.
“As anticipated, the results of the Flotation Scoping Study support the viability of processing both the fines and the middlings materials through flotation, as well as the potential to achieve significantly enhanced recovery of the P2 finer-grained pegmatite material. The results firmly confirm the company’s case for the inclusion of a flotation circuit, which will operate independently and downstream from the main DMS plant. Construction and integration of the circuit will be carried out post the main processing plant achieving steady state 2.7 Mt annualised throughput.
“In line with the terms agreed under the grant of the Mining Lease, work on both the feldspar and downstream conversion studies is progressing at pace. Concurrently, discussions are underway with a number of parties with regards to commercial contracts that are critical to the development of the Project, with updates expected on each of these over the coming months.
“Being now within only two years from initial production, the company continues to actively recruit experienced individuals to bolster the expertise of the leadership team ahead of mine build and operation, while also ensuring a successful transition to becoming a lithium producer. We are delighted to welcome three General Managers to the team, each bringing significant expertise from across the mining sector. We expect to continue to grow our teams, both in Ghana and in Australia, as we near construction.
“With a number of key milestones ahead, we look forward to sharing our progress in due course.”
