"Mali to produce lithium by 2020 with 694,000 T discovered"

From Reuters, November 19, 2018:

Mali is on track to start lithium production by 2020 and companies have already discovered 694,000 tonnes of exploitable reserves, a senior mines ministry official told Reuters.

Lithium has become one of the world’s most in-demand commodities thanks to the rising popularity of electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries.

The Goulamina and Bougoni projects in Mali, owned by Australian mineral explorer Birimian and Britain’s Kodal Minerals respectively, have discovered reserves of over 48 million tonnes of ore including 694,000 tonnes of lithium.

“The numbers could go up as the research continues,” said Yaya Djire, geology department chief at Mali’s mines ministry. “Birimian should start production within two years.” ....

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If interested see also:
Africa: "Mali disintegrates"