Mali’s lithium project takes off amidst political turmoil
President Assimi Goïta at a lithium mine in Mali (via X)
Mali’s lithium project in Bougouni —which is approximately 180 km away from the capital of Bamako— continues its operations in the mine despite political turmoil in the capital, where the Malian government fears losing their grip on the city with ongoing escalations, reported Mining.com
The Bougouni Lithium Project first achieved production in February 2025 and is the second active mining site in Mali, as Mali expands their market beyond gold mining. The project, which is by a British and Chinese-backed company, Kodal Minerals, held a presidential inauguration on November 3rd, marking the official opening of its first stage.
Mali’s military government is currently under pressure as the al-Qaeda-linked group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has placed a fuel blockade over the last two months, more recently taking control of important routes, attacking military patrols and fuel tanker trucks.
The situation has isolated residents from the government as they struggle to look for fuel, and the blockade has also resulted in a school shutdown, as well as embassies from the US and Germany informing their people to leave the capital city of Bamako.
Mali’s lithium mine has so far produced about 10,000 tonnes, which have been transported to the port of San Pedro in the Ivory Coast through a Malian contractor. Fuel imports that have come through Senegal and the Ivory Coast have been repeatedly targeted by the JNIM. These prolonged blockages may have an effect on lithium exports as well.
The militant group is allegedly trying to destabilise the Malian military government and eventually establish an Islamist republic that enforces strict rules and punishments.
In 2021, the military government of Mali ended its Western military partnerships and aligned itself with Moscow. Although the government seems to have been popular among the public, a recent extension of the president’s term until 2030 sparked pro-democratic protests. The ongoing blockade by the JNIM has created further distrust amongst the public and left Mali’s economy in a chokehold.
Mali’s junta, since coming to power, has tried to stabilise its rule by leveraging the country’s mining and creating a new mining code with new regulations, taxes, and revenues. With Gold and Lithium being its valuable exports, the government has attempted to tap into its revenues, the latest being the Bougouni Lithium Project.
Mining.com, Maghrebi.org
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