The government of Ghana has not granted licence to any firm to mine lithium at the Ewoyaa deposit in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region.
Piedmont Lithium on Friday said it would use proceeds from the sale of lithium concentrate from its offtake agreement with North American Lithium (NAL) to fund further investment into the Ewoyaa lithium project, in Ghana.
Piedmont had exercised its option to acquire an initial 22.5% in ASX- and Aim-listed Atlantic Lithium’s Ghana portfolio, having sole-funded US$5-million towards a regional exploration programme, and a further US $12-million towards the delivery of a prefeasibility study and definitive feasibility study (DFS).
However, a statement issued by the Minerals Commission on Tuesday (22 August) said the commission has not made any recommendation for the granting of mining lease to any firm to mine lithium at Ewoyaa.
“The attention of the Minerals Commission has been drawn to a news release by Piedmont Lithium in respect of the company’s acquisition of a stake in the Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghana,” the statement said.
“In this regard, negotiations are ongoing with Atlantic Lithium Limited on the development of the Ewoyaa Lithium deposits in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region. Consequently, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has not approved any contract, transaction, deal or stake for any person, company or entity in respect of the Ewoyaa Lithium project.
“Additionally, the commission is by law mandated to make recommendations to the minister for the grant of mineral rights including a mining lease. The commission has not made any such recommendation for the grant of a mining lease to the minister for the development of the lithium deposits at Ewoyaa. At this stage, Atlantic Lithium Limited still holds a prospecting licence in the name of its local subsidiary Barari Development Ghana Limited,” the statement said.
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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