
May 07, 2023
Pure Resources Limited(Pure or Company) is pleased to announce it has secured two Prospecting Reservations totalling 683km2 of highly prospective ground in southern Finland (Figure 1). The Company applied for the Kova and Kast Reservations following a global review for future facing metal exploration opportunities.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Pure has secured the Kast and Kova Prospecting Reservations totalling 680km2 of highly prospective ground in southern Finland in close proximity to other existing Lithium and critical mineral deposits (Figure 1).
- Both prospects are considered highly prospective for Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum pegmatite deposits and are also prospective for gold and base metal mineralisation.
- The Kova Reservation (544km2) (Figure 2):
- Situated 130km north of Helsinki in the Tampere region of Finland.
- Adjacent to, and geologically analogous to, the Seppälä lithium pegmatites.
- Reservation partially sits within the Eräjärvi metallogenic area.
- More than 70 pegmatite dykes, enriched in B, Be, Li, Nb, Sn and Ta, are reported from the Seppälä area.
- Little modern systematic exploration for lithium deposits has been undertaken in the area.
- Within the Kova Reservation, multiple pegmatite granites have been mapped by the Finnish geological survey (GTK) which will be targeted in upcoming field programs.
- The Kast reservation (139km2) (Figure 3):
- Situated 110km west of Helsinki in the Kimito region of southern Finland (Figure 3).
- Adjacent to, and geologically analogous to the Rosendal tantalum deposit and sits within the Kemiö metallogenic area (Figure 3).
- The Kemiö metallogenic area is defined by the presence of a late-orogenic granitic, complex pegmatite swarm with a significant potential for lithium, tantalum and beryllium exploitation.
- Within the Kast Reservation area, a number of pegmatite granites have been mapped by the Finnish geological survey which the Company plans to map and sample in upcoming field programs.
- The Company (across the two projects) is currently negotiating the purchase of available drillhole (approximately 235 holes drilled historically for ~19,000m), geochemical and geophysical data relevant to the two reservation areas as part of its ongoing data review process. Following completion of the data review, Pure intends to undertake mapping and sampling programs through the northern summer.
Pure’s prospectus dated 11 March 2022 and released to the ASX on 19 April 2022 (Prospectus) outlined the Company’s use of funds (Use of Funds). Under the Use of Funds, Pure has allocated $400,000 for project generative activities.
Pure’s Executive Chairman, Patric Glovac, commented:
“With our current belt-scale Laforge lithium project in Quebec exposing us to the Canadian government’s progressive Critical Mineral Strategy, we have now identified Europe and more specifically, Scandinavia as an area we believe will see significant growth in the battery metals sector with favourable geopolitical and geological conditions.
“As such, we have been reviewing a number of opportunities in Scandinavia and the application of the two Reservations in close proximity to other known lithium areas and is another great step forward in building an excellent, and global, battery metals portfolio.
“The project generation team have been working around the clock with our Finnish counterparts and have again done an excellent job to secure the highly prospective Reservations. With the snow melting as we speak, we are looking forward to completing boots-on-ground exploration over the coming months.”
Figure 1: Location of the Kova and Kast Reservations, southern Finland.
The Finland Reservations
PR1 Finland Oy (a wholly owned subsidiary of Pure) has registered two Prospecting Reservations, with the Finnish Mining Authority, in southern Finland (Figure 1). The two Reservations cover an area of ~683km2 and are considered highly prospective for Lithium- Caesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatite deposits and are also prospective for gold and base metal mineralisation.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Pure Resources, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
The Conversation (0)
1h
Lithium Africa
Investor Insight
Leveraging early-stage land acquisition, accelerated drilling and a strong strategic partnership, Lithium Africa delivers maximum exploration efficiency, capital leverage and de-risked lithium discovery upside at scale.
Overview
Lithium Africa is an exploration company purpose-built to capitalize on the next cycle of lithium demand. Its strategic mission is to discover, de-risk and monetize Tier 1 lithium assets through data-driven targeting, aggressive fieldwork and value-driven exits. The company's unique 50/50 joint venture with Ganfeng Lithium is the cornerstone of its strategy, providing both financial leverage and industrial alignment at the earliest stages of project development.
Africa remains largely underexplored for lithium despite sharing geological similarities with major hardrock lithium belts in Canada and Australia. Lithium Africa is the first company to systematically deploy a multi-jurisdictional discovery strategy across the continent – combining top-tier geology with capital efficiency and strategic clarity.
At the heart of Lithium Africa’s model is its joint venture with Ganfeng Lithium, one of the top two lithium chemical producers globally. The 50/50 JV, established in 2023, enables Lithium Africa to double its capital efficiency, with $1 raised equating to $2 spent on exploration. The partnership provides unmatched advantages: access to Ganfeng’s downstream processing know-how, established customer relationships with Tier 1 OEMs, and a long-term offtake framework that allows Lithium Africa to retain flexibility and optionality on any asset monetization.
Lithium Africa does not intend to develop or operate mines. Instead, the business model is designed around efficient land acquisition, aggressive de-risking via trenching, sampling, and early drilling, and ultimately monetizing high-value discoveries through royalties, sales or carried interests. In a down market, the company is actively pursuing counter-cyclical M&A opportunities to acquire stranded or undercapitalized lithium assets. With this strategy, Lithium Africa provides shareholders exposure to world-class discovery upside with significantly reduced financing risk.
Company Highlights
- Exploration-focused Model: Lithium Africa focuses purely on discovery and value creation, with no intention to develop or operate a mine
- Strategic 50/50 JV with Ganfeng Lithium: Doubles exploration spending and provides access to processing expertise and long-term downstream offtake partners.
- Pan-African Footprint: Over 8,000 sq km of tenure across Zimbabwe, Morocco, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and others – enabling diversification in discovery strategy.
- Contrarian, Countercyclical M&A: Well-capitalized and positioned to roll up distressed lithium juniors during a downcycle
- Rapid Permitting & Scalability: Target jurisdictions offer 3- to 4-year discovery-to-mine timelines versus 10 to 15 years in North America.
- RTO & Listing Expected by August 2025: Tight structure, early institutional support and significant near-term drilling catalysts.
Key Projects
Zimbabwe
Birthday Gift Project (Flagship)
The Birthday Gift project is Lithium Africa’s flagship asset and highest-priority exploration target. Located along a >12 km pegmatite corridor, the project hosts three parallel, flat-lying spodumene-bearing pegmatites within metasediments. Surface trenching has returned multiple significant intercepts, including 100 m, 67 m, and 55 m widths with true thicknesses averaging ~35 m. Rock chip samples from fresh spodumene zones have returned assays as high as 5.25 percent lithium oxide. More than 3,000 geochemical samples have been collected, and a 1,500-meter RC drill program commenced in January 2025 to test a 1,300-meter strike length.
The pegmatites remain open at depth and along strike. SGS South Africa is performing ICP assay analysis, and environmental permitting and trenching on the western trend are ongoing.
The Birthday Gift asset has strong potential to support an inaugural resource estimate by late 2025.
West Africa
Torakoura in Bougouni District, Mali
Lithium Africa controls six highly prospective licenses in Mali, located within the prolific Bougouni Basin, home to Leo Lithium’s Goulamina project, one of the world’s largest spodumene deposits. The Torakoura permit is situated along the same structural corridors and granitic host rocks. Surface exploration has identified spodumene-bearing pegmatites, supported by strong lithium and pathfinder anomalies from historic soil sampling.
Initial drilling at Torakoura began in 2024 but paused for LIBS-to-ICP calibration. A new RC drilling campaign resumed in Q4 2024. These permits offer substantial scale and proximity advantages in a well-established lithium district with proven permitting and development pathways.
Adzopé & Regional Licenses, Côte d’Ivoire
In Côte d’Ivoire, Lithium Africa holds four early-stage but highly promising permits totaling 1,254 sq km. The Adzopé license has returned rock samples with lithium oxide values up to 0.98 percent. Field mapping and lithological sampling have been completed, and a 21,700-meter auger drilling program is planned to refine targets for follow-up RC and core drilling. The region is emerging as a new pegmatite belt in West Africa, and Lithium Africa has first-mover status in building a pipeline of discovery-stage projects.
Kobikoro Project, Guinea
The Kobikoro project in southeastern Guinea consists of four licenses covering 376 sq km in the Archean Kinema-Man domain. This district is part of the underexplored Kissidougou pegmatite belt. Historical stream sediment geochemistry conducted by BRGM highlights multiple anomalous trends in lithium, tantalum and niobium. The standout feature is a 20 km-long lithium-tantalum-niobium anomalous zone aligned with regional structures and underlain by fractionated granite intrusions.
Morocco
Bir El Mami
In 2024, Lithium Africa acquired a 585 sq km, district-scale land package in the Bir El Mami region of Morocco, located on the northern extension of the Tasiast greenstone belt. The project is notable for its spodumene-bearing pegmatites confirmed by surface rock samples, which include lithium values up to 862 parts per million (ppm), and historic soil anomalies up to 363 ppm. The region is emerging as a key lithium district given Morocco’s favorable trade agreements and a growing domestic EV battery manufacturing base. Lithium Africa is currently Morocco’s only major lithium concession holder, and early-stage target identification is underway as of Q1 2025. The company is well positioned to be Morocco’s lithium sector leader and consolidator.
Management Team
Tyron Breytenbach - CEO
Tyron Breytenbach is a former Detour Gold resource geologist and leading equity analyst at Stifel Canada and Cormark. He blends deep geology with institutional capital markets acumen.
Carl Esprey - Executive Chair
Carl Esprey is a former M&A analyst at BHP Billiton and fund manager at GLG Partners. He is the founder of several resource ventures and current CEO of Waraba Gold.
Coulibaly Mamadou - Executive Director
Coulibaly Mamadou is a geologist with 12 years’ experience in mineral exploration. Coulibaly started his career with Randgold, and has extensive knowledge of and experience with the West African Birimian geology.
Ben Gelber - VP Exploration
Ben Gelber is a former VP at Gold Line Resources and exploration manager at Barrick in Guyana. He has more than 19 years of lithium and gold exploration experience.
Dr. Jeroen van Duijvenbode - Development Geologist
With a PhD in geometallurgy, Jeroen van Duijvenbode is an expert in lithium pegmatite targeting and geochemical data interpretation.
Jamie Robinson - CFO
Jamie Robinson is a chartered accountant with extensive mining CFO experience across private and public markets. Prior to his stint in the mining sector, he worked with Deloitte in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Chris O’Connor - General Counsel
Chris is a lawyer with over 19 years of private practice and in-house experience, focused on capital markets, corporate finance and M&A transactions in emerging markets throughout Africa, Eastern Europe and the CIS.
Toluwalase Seriki - Non-Executive Director
Toluwalase Seriki is Ganfeng Lithium’s head of business development in Africa. He possesses a strong M&A and finance background.
Roy Zhang - Advisor
Roy Zhang has nearly 10 years of experience in investment, M&A and corporate development, and is experienced and knowledgeable in lithium trading through his role at Ganfeng.
Dr. Tom Benson - Advisor
Tom Benson is a Stanford PhD volcanologist who leads global exploration at Lithium Americas. He is a widely respected authority on caldera-related lithium resources across the industry.
Keep reading...Show less
22 May
Rio Tinto Partners with Codelco to Develop Lithium Project in Chile
Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO)said on Monday (May 19) that it has signed binding agreements with Corporación Nacional Del Cobre de Chile (Codelco) to develop and operate a high-grade lithium project.
The asset is located in the Salar de Maricunga, a large lithium-containing resource base in Atacama, Chile. Its brine is said to have one of the highest average grades of lithium content in the world.
According to Rio Tinto, it will acquire a 49.99 percent interest in the company Salar de Maricunga, through which Codelco holds its licenses and mining concessions related to the resource base.
Codelco is a state-owned firm formed in 1976. Its full name translates to “National Copper Corporation of Chile.”
“We are honoured to be chosen as Codelco’s partner to deliver a world-class project using Direct Lithium Extraction technology in the Salar de Maricunga, leveraging our expertise as a leading producer of lithium for the global market,” said Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm. “Developing this significant lithium resource will deliver further value-adding growth in our portfolio of critical minerals essential for the energy transition.”
In 2023, Rio and Codelco entered a joint venture for the exploration of Nuevo Cobre, situated within the Potrerillos mining district, also in Atacama. Codelco owns about 43 percent of Nuevo Cobre, while Rio Tinto owns about 58 percent.
For the Salar de Maricunga partnership, Rio will invest AU$350 million in initial funding for additional studies and resource analysis that will assist in creating a final investment decision.
Once a decision is made, AU$500 million will be dedicated toward construction costs. Another AU$50 million will be allocated should the venture deliver its first lithium target by the end of 2030.
The new partnership with Codelco forms part of Rio Tinto's long-term lithium plan, which includes a production goal of over 200,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent annually by 2028.
The company recently completed its acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, making it the world's third top lithium producer.
Subject to regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary conditions, the Salar de Maricunga transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Keep reading...Show less
01 May
European Metals Receives US$36 Million Grant for Cinovec Lithium-Tin Project
European Metals Holdings (ASX:EMH,LSE:EMH,OTCQX:EMHXY) confirmed the approval of a US$36 million Just Transition Fund (JTF) grant for its Cinovec lithium-tin project on Monday (April 28).
The JTF is run by the European Commission, supporting projects that align with the economic diversification and reconversion of concerned territories such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
JTF states on its website that the number of supported projects varies annually, depending on the proposals. The grant also forms part of the European Union’s efforts to transition to clean energy and achieve climate goals.
Cinovec was chosen as it was designated as a strategic project under the Critical Raw Minerals Act in March, underlining its importance in Europe’s journey toward securing stable supply of critical raw minerals. It was also declared a strategic deposit by the Czech government, a designation that accelerates certain permitting processes.
"The grant funding will be utilised to fast track a number of critical path items with regards to the Cinovec Project,” commented European Metals Executive Chair Keith Coughlan in a press release. “This confirmation builds on recent project momentum and is another clear indicator of the support the European Union and the Czech government is willing to provide to assist in getting Cinovec into production in the timeliest manner possible."
Located approximately 100 kilometres northwest of Prague in the Ústí region of the Czech Republic, Cinovec was acquired by European Metals in 2014 through a 100 percent purchase of its exploration rights. It is said to host the largest lithium resource in Europe, and is regarded as one of the largest undeveloped tin resources in the world.
Once operational, it is expected to produce 29,386 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium oxide over a 25 year life.
As per a 2021 JORC-compliant resource estimate, Cinovec holds 708 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.42 percent lithium oxide for a total of 7.39 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.
The results of a definitive feasibility study for Cinovec are expected by mid-2025. Should the project successfully enter production, it could assist in supporting the EU's objective of achieving lithium self-sufficiency by 2030.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Keep reading...Show less
01 May
Atlantic Lithium
Investor Insight
Atlantic Lithium is advancing Ghana’s first lithium mine at Ewoyaa, a fully permitted, strategically located project ready to supply global battery markets. With strong local support and a clear path to production, the company is positioned for near-term growth and long-term impact in the energy transition.
Overview
Atlantic Lithium (AIM:ALL,ASX: A11,GSE:ALLGH,OTCQX: ALLIF) is an Africa-focused lithium exploration and development company advancing its flagship Ewoyaa Lithium project through to production as Ghana’s first lithium mine.
Despite its long mining history, favourable regulatory climate and stable political backdrop, Ghana remains largely overlooked as an investment jurisdiction for battery metals. Situated on the West African coast, the country boasts a strong strategic location, between Europe, the Americas and Asia, to serve the global battery metals market. Ghana is also home to an abundance of mineral wealth, with c. 180,000 tonnes of estimated lithium resources.
Atlantic Lithium intends to produce spodumene concentrate capable of conversion to lithium chemicals for use in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage, aiming to support global decarbonisation.
A definitive feasibility study (DFS) released in June 2023 shows that Ewoyaa has demonstrable economic viability, low capital intensity and excellent profitability.
Through simple open-pit mining, three-stage crushing and conventional Dense Medium Separation (DMS) processing, the DFS outlines the production of 3.6 Mt of spodumene concentrate over a 12-year mine life, which will make it one of the largest spodumene mines by production capacity globally.
The Ewoyaa Lithium Project was awarded a Mining Lease in October 2023, an EPA Permit in September 2024, and a Mine Operating Permit in October 2024.
Having secured all of the permits required to begin construction, Atlantic Lithium currently awaits parliamentary ratification of the Ewoyaa Mining Lease, which was issued by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in October 2023.
The JORC mineral resource estimate at Ewoyaa now stands at 36.8 million tons (Mt) at 1.24 percent lithium oxide, 81 of which is now in the higher confidence measured and indicated categories (3.7 Mt at 1.37 percent lithium oxide in the measured category, 26.1 Mt at 1.24 percent lithium oxide in the indicated category, and 7 Mt at 1.15 percent lithium oxide in the Inferred category).
The residents of the project-affected communities in Ghana’s Central Region have voiced their strong support from the advancement of the project towards production.
Atlantic Lithium’s Ewoyaa Lithium Project site
Project Funding
The development of the project is co-funded under an agreement with NASDAQ and ASX-listed Piedmont Lithium (ASX: PLL), under which Piedmont is required to contribute the first US$70m of Development Costs, as defined in the agreement, as sole funding to complete its earn-in to 50% of Atlantic Lithium's ownership of the project, with all Development Costs and other project expenditure equally shared by both Atlantic Lithium and Piedmont thereafter.
In accordance with the agreement, which is intended to result in the construction of the project and the achievement of initial spodumene production, Piedmont will earn the rights to 50 percent of all spodumene concentrate produced at Ewoyaa at market rates, providing a route to consumers through several major battery manufacturers, including Tesla.
The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Ghana’s minerals sovereign wealth fund, has also agreed to invest US$27.9 million at project-level to acquire a 6% contributing interest in the project and Atlantic Lithium’s Ghana Portfolio. The project-level investment represents Stage 2 of its Strategic Investment in the company.
This follows Stage 1 of its Strategic Investment, comprising MIIF’s Subscription for US$5 million Atlantic Lithium shares, which was completed in January 2024, resulting in MIIF becoming a major strategic shareholder in the company.
MIIF’s Strategic Investment is intended to expedite the development of the project towards production.
In addition, noting that Ewoyaa is one of the most advanced undeveloped hard rock lithium projects globally, Atlantic Lithium continues to engage with parties across the battery metals supply chain who express inbound interest in lithium products from Ewoyaa.
In doing so, Atlantic Lithium aims to expedite and de-risk the development of the Project, realise attractive terms for any offtake contracted and secure well-credentialled partners that will support the company's and Ghana's objectives of supplying lithium into the global market.
Ghana
Ghana is a well-established mining region with access to reliable, existing infrastructure and a significant mining workforce. There are currently 16 operating mines in the country.
Already the largest taxpayer and employer in Ghana’s Central Region, Atlantic Lithium is expected to provide direct employment to over 900 personnel at Ewoyaa and, through its community development fund, whereby 1 percent of revenues will be allocated to local initiatives, will deliver long-lasting benefits to the region and Ghana.
Through its proven lithium discovery, exploration and evaluation methodologies, Atlantic Lithium has the potential to capitalise on its extensive exploration portfolio and deliver upon its objectives of becoming a leading producer of lithium in West Africa.
Company Highlights
- A lithium exploration and development company operating in West Africa, Atlantic Lithium is set to deliver its flagship Ewoyaa Lithium Project as Ghana’s first lithium-producing mine.
- The June 2023 definitive feasibility study for the Ewoyaa Lithium Project indicates the production of 3.6 Mt of spodumene concentrate over a 12-year mine life (steady state production of 365,000 tonnes per annum), making it one of the largest mines by production capacity globally.
- The project was awarded a Mining Lease in October 2023, an EPA Permit in September 2024, and a Mine Operating Permit in October 2024. The project is funded under a co-development agreement with Piedmont Lithium.
- The DFS confirms Ewoyaa’s robust commercial viability and profitability potential, driven by the project’s low capital and operating cost profile.
- The project has an updated mineral resource estimate of 36.8 Mt at 1.24 percent lithium oxide.
- Atlantic Lithium holds a portfolio of lithium projects within 509 sq km and 774 sq km of granted and under-application tenure across Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire respectively.
Key Assets
Ewoyaa
Atlantic Lithium's flagship Ewoyaa Lithium Project is situated within 110 kilometres of Takoradi Port and 100 kilometres of Accra, with access to excellent infrastructure and a skilled local workforce.
Atlantic Lithium has been granted a Mining Lease, an EPA Permit and a Mine Operating Permit in respect of the project in October 2023, September 2024 and October 2024, respectively. The company is currently advancing the project towards production.
Highlights:
- Promising DFS Results: Atlantic Lithium's DFS reaffirmed Ewoyaa’s low capital and operating profile and robust profitability. Highlights include:
- Estimated 12-year life of mine, producing 3.6 Mt spodumene concentrate.
- 365 ktpa steady state production
- Robust US$675/t All in sustaining cost and US$377 C1 cash cost.
- Favourable Location: The project's starter pits are positioned within one kilometre of its processing plant. Additionally, Ewoyaa has access to reliable existing infrastructure, located within 800 metres from the N1 highway and adjacent to grid power.
- Promising Reserves: Ewoyaa's current mineral resource estimate (as of July 2024) at is 36.8 Mt at 1.24 percent lithium oxide, of which 81 percent is now in the higher confidence measured and indicated categories (3.7 Mt at 1.37 percent lithium oxide in the measured category, and 26.1 Mt at 1.24 percent lithium oxide in the indicated category, and 7 Mt at 1.15 percent lithium in the inferred category).
- Potential for Further Exploration: There remains significant exploration potential within the company’s 509km2 tenure in Ghana.
- Strong Partnerships: Atlantic Lithium has an offtake deal with Piedmont Lithium, which itself has offtake agreements with both Tesla and LG Chem. Ghana’s Minerals Income Investment Fund has also agreed a Strategic Investment in the company to expedite the development of the project.
- Positive Presence: Atlantic Lithium will generate significant economic benefits for the region. Once operational, the project is expected to employ over 900 personnel and deliver significant value to Ghana, including through taxes, royalties, employment and local procurement.
Côte d'Ivoire
Atlantic Lithium wholly owns two contiguous exploration licences covering an area of c. 771 square kilometres in the mining-friendly jurisdiction of Côte d'Ivoire, which borders Ghana on the West African coast. The two licences offer the company with exclusive rights to apply its proven lithium exploration expertise over new, untested and highly prospective tenure, where the company considers there to be significant lithium discovery potential. The licences, which are located within 100 kilometres of the country's economic capital, Abidjan, are incredibly well-served, with extensive road infrastructure, well-established cellular network and high-voltage transmission lines.
Management Team
Neil Herbert - Executive Chairman
Neil Herbert is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and has over 30 years of experience in finance. He has been involved in growing mining and oil and gas companies, both as an executive and as an investor, for over 25 years.
Until May 2013, he was co-chairman and managing director of AIM-quoted Polo Resources, a natural resources investment company. Prior to this, Herbert was a director of resource investment company Galahad Gold, from which he became finance director of its most successful investment, the start-up uranium company UraMin, from 2005 to 2007. During this period, he worked to float the company on AIM and the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2006, raised US$400 million in equity financing and subsequently negotiated the sale of the group for US$2.5 billion.
Herbert has held board positions at a number of resource companies where he has been involved in managing numerous acquisitions, disposals, stock market listings and fundraisings. He holds a joint honours degree in economics and economic history from the University of Leicester.
Keith Muller - Chief Executive Officer
Keith Muller is a mining engineer with over 20 years of operational and leadership experience across domestic and international mining, including in the lithium sector. He has a strong operational background in hard rock lithium mining and processing, particularly in DMS spodumene processing.
Before joining Atlantic Lithium, he held roles as both a business leader and general manager at Allkem, where he worked on the Mt Cattlin lithium mine in Western Australia and, prior to that, Muller served as operations manager and senior mining engineer at Simec.
Muller holds a Master of Mining Engineering from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Pretoria. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland, and the Engineering Council of South Africa.
Amanda Harsas - Finance Director and Company Secretary
Amanda Harsas is a senior finance executive with a demonstrable track record and over 25 years’ experience in strategic finance, business transformation, commercial finance, customer and supplier negotiations and capital management. Before joining Atlantic Lithium, she worked in several sectors, including healthcare, insurance, retail and professional services, across Asia, Europe and the U.S. Harsas holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kieran Daly - Non-executive Director
Kieran Daly is the executive of Growth and Strategic Development at Assore. He holds a BSc Mining Engineering from Camborne School of Mines (1991) and an MBA from Wits Business School (2001) and worked in investment banking/equity research for more than 10 years at UBS, Macquarie and Investec, prior to joining Assore in 2018.
Daly spent the first 15 years of his mining career at Anglo American’s coal division (Anglo Coal) in a number of international roles including operations, sales and marketing, strategy and business development. Among his key roles were leading and developing Anglo Coal's marketing efforts in Asia and to steel industry customers globally. He was also the Global Head of Strategy for Anglo Coal immediately prior to leaving Anglo in 2007.
Christelle Van Der Merwe - Non-executive Director
Christelle Van Der Merwe is a senior manager in the growth & strategic development team at Assore. She has been a geologist for Assore since 2013 and is involved with the strategic and resource investment decisions of the company. Van Der Merwe is a member of SACNASP, the GSSA and AUSIMM.
Jonathan Henry - Independent Non-executive Director
Jonathan Henry is an experienced non-executive director, having held various leadership and board roles for nearly two decades. Henry has significant expertise working across capital markets, business development, project financing, key stakeholder engagement, and the reporting and implementation of ESG-focused initiatives. Henry has a wealth of experience projects towards production and commercialisation to deliver shareholder value.
Henry previously served as non-executive chair and executive chair of Giyani Metals Corporation, a battery development company advancing its portfolio of manganese oxide projects in Botswana, executive chair and non-executive director at Ormonde Mining, non-executive director at Ashanti Gold Corporation, president, director and chief executive officer at Gabriel Resources and various roles, including chief executive officer and managing director, at Avocet Mining. He holds a BA (Hons) in Natural Sciences from Trinity College, Dublin.
Michael Bourguignon – Head of Capital Projects
Michael Bourguignon is a distinguished project management professional with a rich history of leading significant initiatives in the mining and energy sectors. Most recently, he served as the COO at Evolution Energy Minerals in Tanzania, where he managed the optimisation and update of the Definitive Feasibility Study, managed the Front-End Engineering Design package, and oversaw the completion of the Relocation Action Plan and other community-related works.
Prior to this, Bourguignon worked with Rio Tinto in Australia as a consulting construction manager, as well as Glencore’s Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia, where he was the project director for the Mopani Synclinorium Concentrator, and Syrah’s Balama Graphite Mine in Mozambique, where he was project director. He has also previously worked in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire with Perseus Mining. Bourguignon holds an MBA from Murdoch University and is a member of the Australian Institute of Project Management.
Andrew Henry – General Manager, Commercial and Finance
Andrew Henry is an accomplished general manager with over a decade’s experience in the operational mining sector, specialising in strategy, planning and analysis, contracts, large-scale project development and site operations.
Before joining Atlantic Lithium, Henry held the role of commercial manager at global lithium chemicals company Allkem and, prior to that, he spent over four years with major gold mining company Newcrest Mining.
Henry holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of South Australia and is a member of CPA Australia.
Ahmed-Salim Adam – General Manager, Operations
Ahmed-Salim Adam is an experienced mining general manager with over 15 years of experience leading various large-scale projects in Ghana across all stages of mine development, production, and closure, with a focus on safety and sustainability.
Adam has previously held a number of leadership roles, including as senior consultant of Metallurgy at GEOMAN Consult Ltd, as a director for FGR Bogoso Prestea’s Refractory Project and as general manager at Golden Star Resources.
He holds a MPhil Minerals Engineering and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mineral Engineering, both from the University of Mines and Technology, Ghana. He is also a member of The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) in the United Kingdom and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) in Australia.
Belinda Gethin – General Manager, Corporate Finance and Company Secretary
Belinda assumed the role of general manager, corporate - finance and company secretary in January 2024, having initially joined the company as financial reporting manager in June 2023. To her role at Atlantic Lithium, Gethin brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of statutory, financial and corporate reporting, including the preparation of financial statements and accounting for complex transactions. Before joining Atlantic Lithium, Gethin worked as the chief financial officer for Lumus Imaging and, prior to that, as the group reporting manager at Healius. Gethin is a chartered accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW in Sydney, Australia.
Iwan Williams – General Manager, Exploration
Iwan Williams is an exploration geologist with over 20 years' experience across a broad range of commodities, principally iron ore, manganese, gold, copper (porphyry and sed. hosted), PGE's, nickel and other base metals, as well as chromitite, phosphates, coal and diamond.
Williams has extensive southern and West African experience and has worked in Central and South America. His experience includes all aspects of exploration management, project generation, opportunity reviews, due diligence and mine geology. He has extensive studies experience, having participated in the delivery of multiple project studies including resource, mine design criteria, baseline environmental and social studies and metallurgical test-work programmes. He is very familiar with working in Afric,a having spent 23 years of his 28-year geological career in Africa. Williams is a graduate of the University of Liverpool.
Abdul Razak – Exploration Manager, Ghana
Abdul Razak has extensive exploration, resource evaluation and project management experience throughout West Africa with a strong focus on data-rich environments. He has extensive gold experience, having worked throughout Ghana with AngloGold Ashanti, Goldfields Ghana, Perseus and Golden Star, as well as international exploration and resource evaluation experience in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Guinea.
Razak is an integral member of the team, managing all site activities including drilling, laboratory, local teams, geotech and hydro, community consultations and stakeholder engagements and was instrumental inthe establishment of the current development team and defining Ghana’s maiden lithium resource estimate.
Keep reading...Show less
30 April
Atlantic Appeals for Fiscal Re-evaluation for Ewoyaa Lithium Project
Atlantic Lithium (ASX:A11,LSE:AAL,OTCQX:ALLIF) is appealing to the Ghanaian government to re-evaluate fiscal terms regarding its flagship Ewoyaa lithium project, which is located in the country.
The company’s board of directors acknowledged media reports on the situation in a press release late last week, saying it wants to ensure the successful development of the asset.
Atlantic notes that lithium prices have significantly declined since the mining lease for Ewoyaa was granted in October 2023, and is urging officials to adjust fiscal terms based on current price levels. Lithium prices remained low in 2024, and the downtrend has continued in 2025, with some price segments falling to four year lows.
Adam Webb, head of battery raw materials at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, said at the Benchmark Summit in March that lithium carbonate prices are expected to remain about where they are, at US$10,400 per metric ton.
“But if we look further ahead, from 2026 onwards, that market is switching into the deficit, albeit quite small to start with, and that will end up being supportive of prices,” he explained at the Toronto-based event.
Australian spot spodumene concentrate prices have also declined.
Starting the year at the US$990 per metric ton level, values contracted through the first quarter of 2025 and are now sitting at the US$765 level, a 23.5 percent drop from January 2024's price of US$1,000.
Atlantic said that despite this price environment, it is dedicated to “working in a spirit of partnership” with the Ghanaian government and its host communities to ensure that Ewoyaa becomes a reality.
The project is set to be Ghana’s first lithium-producing mine, and could become one of the top 10 largest spodumene concentrate producers globally. A resource estimate updated in July 2024 outlines 36.8 million metric tons at 1.24 percent lithium oxide, while a June 2023 definitive feasibility study shows Ewoyaa has the capacity to produce 3.6 million metric tons of spodumene concentrate over a 12 year mine life.
“While current lithium prices present headwinds, we believe that through collaboration and prudent fiscal measures, we can advance Ewoyaa to production and deliver lasting value for all stakeholders,” said Executive Chair Neil Herbert.
Atlantic said it is working closely with the Ghanaian government and local communities to progress the project to production and ensure long-term benefits for Ghana, such as critical revenue, local employment and skills development.
In August 2023, Piedmont Lithium (ASX:PLL,NASDAQ: PLL) committed to funding Ewoyaa, acquiring a 22.5 percent stake in the project. The company continues to assist Atlantic in advancing the project.
Speaking with the media earlier this week, Atlantic Lithium CEO Keith Muller said that there is “no doubt” in his mind that Ewoyaa will be built.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Atlantic Lithium is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
Keep reading...Show less
28 April
USD 36 Million Just Transition Fund Grant Approved for Cinovec Project
European Metals Holdings Limited (ASX & AIM: EMH, OTCQX: EMHXY, ERPNF and EMHLF) (“European Metals” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the following update in relation to grant funding by the European Union for the Cinovec Project (“Cinovec” or “the Project”).
Highlights
- Czech selection panel of the managing authority for the EU Just Transition Fund (“JTF”) has approved a CZK 800 million (US$ 36 million) grant to the Cinovec Project.
- JTF grant is conditional on the Project Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) being submitted by 31st December 2025 and approval of the EIA by the Czech Ministry of Environment by 30th June 2026.
- The Cinovec Project is a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (“CRMA”).
- Cinovec mineral deposit is designated a Strategic Deposit by the Czech government for the purposes of the Czech Construction Code.
Just Transition Fund
Further to the Project being declared a “Strategic Project” under the (refer to the Company’s ASX/AIM releases dated 26/25 March 2025) (“Cinovec Declared a Strategic Project Under EU Critical Raw Materials Act”), the final approval of financial support for the Project under the JTF represents a further important confirmation of support from European and Czech institutions.
The terms and conditions of the JTF grant will be detailed in the contract between the grant provider (Czech Ministry of Environment) and the beneficiary, the Cinovec Project holding company, Geomet s.r.o.
The contract will detail milestones, including the EIA and construction permitting timetable, as well as the conditions for advance payments and reimbursement of costs incurred by the beneficiary. The conditions will also include how the Project's progress will be reported to the Czech Ministry of Environment which is the managing authority for JTF projects.
Keith Coughlan, Executive Chairman, commented:“We welcome this final confirmation of the significant JTF grant. The grant funding will be utilised to fast track a number of critical path items with regards to the Cinovec Project. This confirmation builds on recent project momentum, and is another clear indicator of the support the European Union and the Czech government is willing to provide to assist in getting Cinovec into production in the timeliest manner possible.”
Strategic Project Status
The declaration of the Cinovec Project as a Strategic Project under the CRMA represents confirmation of the advanced stage of development of the Project. The Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) for the Project is progressing towards completion in mid-2025, with the EIA to be completed and submitted for approval by the end of 2025. It is expected that the Czech Ministry of Environment will approve the EIA by mid-2026, with final construction permitting expected to follow within the required time frame of 24 months as set out in CRMA.
Being named a Strategic Project means that the project is considered highly important for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials in Europe. Such projects must have a credible timeframe and production volumes and have to be implemented with the highest ESG credentials. These projects are essential for the green and digital transition, as well as for the resilience of the defence and aerospace sectors. The Cinovec Project, comprising of the largest hard rock lithium resource in the EU by far, is vital to achieve the EU’s objectives on Climate Change.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from European Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Keep reading...Show less
Latest News
Latest Press Releases
Related News
TOP STOCKS
American Battery4.030.24
Aion Therapeutic0.10-0.01
Cybin Corp2.140.00
Investing News Network websites or approved third-party tools use cookies. Please refer to the cookie policy for collected data, privacy and GDPR compliance. By continuing to browse the site, you agree to our use of cookies.