The demerger will help each separate entity to put increased focus on the project
Lithium floating in oil. (Credit: Tomihahndorf at German Wikipedia)
Firefinch has unveiled plans to spin off its Goulamina lithium project, located in West African nation Mali, into a separate lithium focussed company.
The new entity, which is subject to shareholder and other required approvals, is expected to be listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
In October 2020, the company revealed the results of a definitive feasibility study (DFS), which confirmed Goulamina as long life, large scale and low-cost open-pit project.
According to the study, the project is expected to have an average production of 436,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per annum and average cash costs over the life of mine of $281 per tonne of spodumene concentrate.
With an initial mine life of 23 years, Goulamina project is expected to include an ore reserve of 52 million tonnes at 1.51% Li2O for 0.79 million tonnes contained Li2O and a mineral resource of 109 million tonnes at 1.45% Li2O for 1.57 million tonnes contained Li2O.
The demerger will help each separate entity to focus more on the project and boost the organic and other value accretive growth opportunities in their respective sectors.
It will also enable Firefinch to focus all its resources on its three-stage production ramp-up strategy at the Morila gold project in Mali.
Firefinch and the new entity will also enter into a services agreement, which allows the entity to benefit from Firefinch’s operating capacity in Mali and share corporate resources.
Firefinch executive chairman Alistair Cowden said: “The Goulamina Lithium Project and the Morila Gold Mine are both high-quality assets.
“Given the remarkable opportunity of two world-class projects, Firefinch’s board believes that demerging the Goulamina Lithium Project into a separate entity is the best way to realise material value for shareholders.
“Firefinch now offers a unique investment proposition with this restructure, shareholders will own shares in each of a high growth gold and lithium company.”
In November 2020, Firefinch announced achievement of the first gold pour at the Morila gold mine in south-west Mali under its ownership.