28 March 2024, Kodal Minerals, the mineral exploration and development company, announced an agreement to terminate the right of first refusal (“ROFR”) granted to Suay Chin International Pte Limited (“Suay Chin”) over 80% of the spodumene product produced at the Bougouni Lithium Project in Southern Mali (the “Agreement”). The parties have agreed an amendment to the Agreement such that the total termination fee of US$14 million payable to Suay Chin by Kodal Mining UK Limited (“KMUK”, the Bougouni Lithium Project company 51% owned by Hainan Mining Co. Ltd) will now be paid in three instalments, rather than two, as set out below, which has now terminated the ROFR and associated term sheet:
- US$3.5 million has been paid, which has triggered termination of the ROFR and associated term sheet;
- US$3.5 million is to be paid within 10 business days of the signing of an offtake agreement between KMUK and Hainan Mining Co Ltd (“Hainan”) (as approved by Kodal Minerals as a KMUK shareholder); and
- US$7 million is to be paid within 10 business days of the first shipment of spodumene concentrate from the Bougouni Lithium Project, or on 31 October 2024, whichever date is earlier.
All other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain the same. The Agreement is in line with the KMUK funding package announced on 19 January 2023, that part of Hainan’s investment in KMUK would be used for a termination payment for the ROFR.
Kodal and KMUK are continuing negotiations with Hainan to finalise an offtake agreement with Hainan for 100% of the spodumene product produced at the Bougouni Lithium Project. It has been agreed between Kodal and Hainan that any offtake agreement reached between KMUK and Hainan will be based on market prices for spodumene and will require express written approval from Kodal Minerals as a shareholder of KMUK. The offtake agreement with Hainan will initially relate to spodumene production from the Stage 1 Dense Media Separation (DMS) processing plant.