Posted on 02 Jul 2025
Chinese lithium chemicals company Ganfeng Lithium has recently shipped the first batch of lithium concentrate from its Goulamina project in Mali to China, Kallanish learns.
The maiden cargo represents a major milestone for Ganfeng and West Africa. Concentrate was transported to the port via trucks, departing Africa on 24 June. The undisclosed shipment is expected to arrive in China in early August. However, further details on the destination have not been disclosed.
The Goulamina hard-rock lithium project, which was put into operation last year, was first developed by Australia’s Firefinch. Ganfeng became a joint venture partner, and later fully acquired the project.
This Tier-1 development has capacity to produce 506,000 tonnes/year of spodumene concentrate at Stage 1. It’s touted as the third-largest lithium producer globally, behind only Greenbushes and Pilgangoora, both Australian mines.
According to Ganfeng, Goulamina holds 211 million tonnes of proven ore resources.
Noting the high concentration of lithium supply and shorter inventory turnover cycles, Ganfeng decided to expand its global resource footprint to manage supply disruption risks. The company has since moved upstream with production sites now in Mali, Australia, Argentina and China. Its diversified resource portfolio includes spodumene, brine and lepidolite, Kallanish notes.
Its Mexican mining operation was disrupted by former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s effort to nationalise the country’s lithium resources in 2022. It’s unclear if the company continues litigation to recover control of the under-construction Sonora project.
In May, it agreed to pay $342.7 million to purchase the remaining 40% of the Goulamina project from Australia-listed Leo Lithium.
Source:Kallanish
