Community

Exploration

Lithium Du Mali SA (LMSA) is committed to the development of communities closest to our project, the Bougouni region more broadly and the country of Mali in general.

The company is working and engaging with government authorities at the commune, regional and federal level on its community development initiatives. The improvements made to socio-economic indicators within nearby communities will be measured and tracked as part of the company’s social license to operate and we will be reporting on our progress to all relevant stakeholders, particularly the Malian government, with regards these endeavors.

Current projects

Comprehensive water project

A comprehensive water project which when complete will provide safe, clean and reliable drinking water, all year round to our 4 closest villages. This project commenced in September with two Malian companies selected to undertake the work. The estimated date of completion is late December 2023.

School fence construction

The company has commenced construction of a school fence around a local school which is impacted by the company’s activities which has resulted in increased traffic along the road nearby the school. The purpose of the fence is to ensure the safety of school children is maintained whilst these activities take place.

Hunters shed

The construction of a Hunters shed in the village of Goulamina is almost complete. The company has constructed this facility to provide local hunters with a place to meet and administer their activities from.

Completed projects

5,000 mosquito nets

In September, with the help of the Bougouni Regional Health authority, the company distributed 5,000 mosquito nets to local communities. This initiative is the first stage of the company’s long-term ambition to eliminate malaria within our local communities.

Upgrades to local roads

The company has undertaken upgrades to local roads in the area and will continue to enhance roads and related infrastructure as part of its ongoing commitment to the development of nearby communities.

School supplies

The company distributed 1,200 school packs to each child from the nearby villages. These packs included a backpack and school equipment to assist families with the financial burden of educating their children. Basic but essential teaching equipment.

Sponsorship importance

The company has recognized and sponsored a number of days of importance. This includes donations of sugar for local villages in recognition of Ramadan, donation of sporting equipment to help communities celebrate Malian Independence Day, assistance to local women’s groups.

Business Development

The company has also identified several business opportunities in the villages as part of its livelihood development programs. The purpose of this business is to provide other ways in which villagers can generate income from the project, without being directly employed by either the company or one of our contractors. We are working with a number of Malian companies to assist us in these projects which include;

  • Local soap making;
  • Commercial honey production from locally sourced honey;
  • Market Gardens for women’s cooperatives; and
  • Brick making to support the construction of buildings within the village and for the project itself.

The company will continue to explore, discuss and implement other business initiatives in consultation with local communities and relevant authorities throughout the life of the project. 

Community initiatives

The company’s current approach, with regards its community development initiatives is to first understand what the most acute socio-economic issues within the nearby communities are and, to gain critical baseline information to facilitate a better understanding of local issues. This will allow us to target specific interventions to specific groups in the most effective and sustainable way. To facilitate this a number of studies have been commissioned by the company to obtain this information. This includes:

  • A comprehensive Health Needs assessment on local communities that will provide invaluable information on the most acute health needs within nearby communities and the best approach to addressing these issues.
  • An agronomy study to evaluate the agricultural condition of local soils and farming practices, what inputs are required to improve crop yields and what other efficiencies can be created to generate increased revenue for local farmers.
  • A socio-economic study that will provide valuable information on local community demographics that are benchmarked to national Malian standards. The findings from this study will be crucial in informing the company’s overall community development strategy.