Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On the evening of June 24 local time, Ganfeng Lithium ("Ganfeng") marked a major milestone as the first shipment of lithium concentrate from its Goulamina project in Mali set sail for China. The cargo, loaded at the mine site and transported by road to the export port, is expected to arrive at a Chinese port in early August. The first trucks reached the port on May 7.
Located in Mali, West Africa, the Goulamina project holds a proven ore resource of 211 million tonnes. Phase I of the project, which commenced production in 2024, has a planned annual capacity of 506,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate. This marks Ganfeng's first lithium project in Africa to be independently developed and operated.
This inaugural shipment represents not only a breakthrough for Ganfeng but also its first-ever export of lithium concentrate from West Africa. It signifies the transition of Ganfeng's African resource development from construction to commercial output, enhancing the company's ability to supply high-quality lithium products globally and contributing to the sustainable development of the global new energy industry.
Historically, the global lithium supply has been relatively concentrated, leaving the market vulnerable to disruptions. In recent years, as the lithium battery industry has shortened inventory turnover cycles, the need for supply chain stability has become more urgent.
In response, Ganfeng has been expanding its global resource footprint since 2011. Its active production sites now span Mali, Australia, Argentina, and China, with a diversified resource portfolio including spodumene, brine, and lepidolite. This increasingly varied supply network is reinforcing the resilience of Ganfeng's raw material supply chain.
To match upstream resources with downstream production capacity, Ganfeng continues to scout high-quality resource assets and associated projects worldwide. On the operational front, the company has built photovoltaic power stations and energy storage systems to ensure a stable supply of low-cost green electricity for its mining operations. It has also adopted DLE (direct lithium extraction) technologies, water recycling systems, and has proactively laid out battery recycling initiatives to ensure sustainable lithium recovery and reduced environmental impact.
Additionally, by deploying digital platforms and smart equipment, Ganfeng said it has improved supply chain visibility and forecasting capabilities, enabling more accurate risk mitigation and inventory management.
