Kodal Minerals, a British mining company, is unable to export more than 20,000 tonnes (t) of lithium concentrate from its Bougouni lithium project in southern Mali due to regulatory challenges, disclosed CEO Bernard Aylward to Reuters.

This situation arises amidst a global decline in lithium production, which is set to fall by approximately 228,000t this year, partly due to plummeting metal prices.

The delay is attributed to Malian officials examining a pricing mechanism to ensure the spodumene concentrate from the company's Bougouni project is sold at current market rates.

In February 2025, Kodal Minerals produced the first lithium oxide spodumene concentrate at its Bougouni project.

The company has a standing agreement to sell its entire output to Hainan Mining of China.

Aylward said: "We are spending money to produce a product that we want to sell… Our buyer actually wants to buy it, [but] we can't export."

Representatives from Mali's mining and trade ministries did not reply to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Aylward revealed that the company has been negotiating for final approvals since the previous year and is close to finalising its export permit, hoping to dispatch its first shipment by mid-June.

Mali, traditionally known for gold production, is now focusing on exploiting its considerable lithium reserves.

The country's military government is taking firmer control of the mining sector to increase revenue, which has included arresting foreign executives and seizing gold stocks during negotiations with multinational gold mining companies.

Aylward added: "Other operations in Mali are also having delays in the export permits. It is not restricted to the Kodal team."