Goulamina Lithium Project: Q1 2026 Production Update

The Goulamina Lithium Project in southern Mali has continued its strong operational performance through the first quarter of 2026, with Corica's mining team delivering record material movement volumes as the project progresses through its ramp-up phase.

Pit Development Progress

Mining operations in the main Goulamina pit have advanced to the Stage 2 cutback, with benching now at the 345-metre reduced level. The ore body exposure is tracking ahead of schedule, providing the processing plant with a consistent feed grade of spodumene-bearing pegmatite.

Waste haulage to the eastern dump has been optimised through a revised road network design, reducing average cycle times by approximately 12% compared to Q4 2025. This improvement has been a direct result of the planning team's work on traffic flow modelling and the commissioning of a new water cart rotation to maintain road surface quality.

Rainy Season Preparedness

With the West African rainy season approaching in June, the team has commenced early preparation of dewatering infrastructure around the pit perimeter. Sump capacity has been increased by 40% compared to the 2025 wet season, and additional pumping equipment has been mobilised from the Bamako workshop.

"Rainy season at Goulamina is always a challenge given the scale of the pit," said the Goulamina Site Manager. "Last year we lost approximately 15 days of productive mining to weather events. This year, with improved drainage infrastructure and a dedicated dewatering crew, we're targeting less than 8 days of lost time."

Fleet Performance

The CAT 6030 and CAT 777 fleet has maintained an average mechanical availability of 98.2% for the quarter — a figure that reflects the maintenance team's disciplined approach to preventive scheduling. Zero major component failures were recorded during Q1, compared to two in Q1 2025.

Q2 2026 Outlook

The second quarter will focus on commencing the Stage 3 cutback design and expanding the waste dump footprint to accommodate increased stripping ratios. An additional CAT 777 is expected to be commissioned in April, bringing the total haul fleet to 14 units.