October 14 – A brief yet solemn ceremony was held at the Bougouni Lithium Project site in Mali, operated by Hainan Mining, to mark the inaugural shipment of spodumene concentrate. A total of 30,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate will be transported from Bougouni to the Port of San-Pédro in Côte d'Ivoire, before being shipped to Yangpu Port in Hainan, China, providing essential raw materials for the company's lithium processing project.

Since the concentrator commenced trial production in February 2025, the project team has demonstrated exceptional coordination and resilience amid multiple challenges, including local shortages of explosives and fuel, as well as a complex security environment. Through steady progress in system commissioning and production ramp-up, the team has ensured stable project operations and successfully completed the production, stockpiling, and preparation for the shipment of the lithium concentrate.

Concurrently, the project company has placed strong emphasis on local team development. By leveraging hands-on training from dispatched technical personnel, a local production team with independent operational capabilities has been rapidly cultivated, laying a solid talent foundation for the project’s long-term and stable operation.

At the shipment ceremony, Project CEO Cai Yusheng outlined specific requirements for transportation safety. He emphasized that contracted carriers must strictly adhere to dispatch commands, follow designated routes to avoid intersecting traffic, implement all necessary safety measures during lifting and loading operations, and conduct daily pre-work safety briefings to proactively enhance risk awareness.

Cai Yusheng highlighted that the successful inaugural shipment represents a significant milestone for the Bougouni Lithium Project as it transitions into commercial operation. “This marks the initial formation of an integrated ‘construction-production-transportation-sales’ operational capability, officially launching the project into full-scale production and management,” he stated. “The team must continue to collaborate closely to ensure the safe and orderly completion of the concentrate stockpiling and shipment tasks, setting a strong foundation for subsequent production and market delivery.”