Zak Mir talks to Bernard Aylward, CEO of Kodal Minerals, the mineral exploration and development company, who provided an update on the initial drilling assay results returned at the Boumou prospect located within the Bougouni Lithium Project in Mali.



In this interview, Aylward provides an update on the progress of the Bougouni Lithium Project in Mali.



Bernard Aylward, CEO of Kodal Minerals, remarked: “The Boumou prospect at our flagship Bougouni Lithium Project continues to exceed our expectations and these new wide, high-grade intersections provide further support for the interpretation of the continuity of the pegmatite mineralisation, as defined in the March 2023 drilling campaign.  The extension and definition of the Boumou prospect continues to be the highest priority for the exploration drilling, and the potential to define further coarse grained mineralisation suitable to dense media separation (“DMS”) treatment may provide the opportunity to further extend the current 4-year life of the Stage 1 Ngoualana DMS treatment plant currently in construction



“The diamond drill core programme is continuing at Boumou and our exploration  team is reviewing a metallurgical testwork programme to plan for the optimisation of the Stage 2 floatation design and optimise the mining schedule with Boumou and Sogola-Baoule Prospects.”



Key points from the interview:







  1. Project Funding and Development: Kodal Minerals has received substantial funding, including $100 million from a partner, Hainan Mining, to cover the estimated $65 million needed for the Dense Media Separation (DMS) plant and further project development.


  2. Drilling and Resource Expansion: The company is continuing to drill and expand the resource base. Recent drilling results at the Boumou prospect have shown some of the thickest and highest-grade intersections.


  3. Project Strategy: The strategy involves quickly moving into the development phase, with the construction of the DMS plant and plans for a stage two flotation plant in the next couple of years.


  4. Current Progress: Construction of the DMS plant is underway, with equipment being transported to the site. The project is on schedule to start production by the end of 2024.


  5. Team and Outlook: The team is growing, and the company is optimistic about the future, expecting to ship concentrate from the DMS plant before December 2024.


Aylward expresses confidence in the project's progress and emphasizes the importance of a long-term approach in the mining industry. The interview concludes with a positive outlook on the project's development and future stages.



https://www.share-talk.com/zak-mir-talks-to-bernard-aylward-ceo-of-kodal-minerals/