Following its successful launch of lithium production at the Goulamina mine in Mali, Chinese producer Ganfeng Lithium is expanding its presence across West Africa, targeting new exploration projects in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea.
The expansion is being pursued through a partnership with Lithium Africa Corp Lithium Africa Resources with Canada’s Lombard Street Capital. The merger, finalized on February 11, created a TSX Venture Exchange-listed entity with a joint venture with Ganfeng’s affiliate GFL International. Under the 50-50 partnership, the companies aim to acquire, explore, and develop lithium assets across Africa.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Lithium Africa Corp holds four permits covering 1,254 square kilometers in the Adzopé region. Early exploration has identified pegmatite mineralization, with initial trenching returning an eight-meter intersection grading 1.26 percent lithium. Additional drilling is scheduled for the first half of 2026. In Guinea, the company controls 376 square kilometers, where historical mapping has highlighted lithium, tantalum, and niobium anomalies, though no significant results have been released.
The joint venture also maintains exploration permits near Mali’s Goulamina mine, with sampling campaigns identifying spodumene mineralization at several satellite targets, including Tienfagala and Madina. Any discoveries in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea could complement Ganfeng’s existing operations and contribute to its vertically integrated lithium and battery value chain, which spans mining, refining, processing, and electric vehicle battery production.
The recent merger also raised approximately 2.68 million Canadian dollars (US$1.97 million), earmarked in part to fund exploration and development at Adzopé. While the projects are still in early stages, the move signals Beijing’s long-term strategic interest in Africa’s critical minerals sector.
Analysts note that developing new mines will require time, substantial capital investment, and supportive regulatory environments. Nevertheless, Ganfeng’s early positioning in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea, alongside its established operations in Mali, strengthens China’s footprint in West Africa as global powers compete for lithium and other critical minerals essential for the electric vehicle and renewable energy industries.
This expansion underscores the growing geopolitical and economic significance of West Africa’s lithium resources, highlighting the region as a key battleground for technological and industrial supply chains in the green economy.
Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea are emerging as key sources of lithium in Africa, a mineral critical for the global transition to electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, and high-tech industries. Lithium occurs primarily in pegmatite and spodumene deposits, and West Africa’s geology is increasingly attracting international mining and battery companies seeking reliable, high-quality supplies.
Ganfeng Lithium, one of the world’s largest lithium producers, has pursued a deliberate strategy of securing upstream control in West Africa. The company began its African operations with a majority stake in the Goulamina mine in Mali, which began production in 2024 and started exporting in 2025. Goulamina has become a cornerstone for Ganfeng’s vertically integrated model, spanning lithium mining, refining, processing, and electric vehicle battery manufacturing.
Following its success in Mali, Ganfeng has expanded its footprint via a partnership with Lithium Africa Corp’s Lombard Street CapitalIn Côte d’Ivoire1.26 percent lithium. In Guinea
Background to Lithium production in West Africa
West Africa has emerged as a key frontier for lithium, a critical mineral underpinning the global shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage, and advanced electronics. Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea host high-quality hard-rock lithium deposits, primarily in pegmatite and spodumene formations. These deposits are increasingly attractive to international mining and battery companies as global demand for lithium continues to surge, driven by EV adoption, renewable energy storage needs, and government decarbonization policies worldwide.
Ganfeng Lithium has taken a proactive approach to securing West African lithium resources. After acquiring a majority stake in the Goulamina mine in Mali—one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium operations—Ganfeng began production in 2024 and launched exports in 2025. Goulamina is a cornerstone of Ganfeng’s vertically integrated model, which spans mining, refining, lithium chemical production, and EV battery manufacturing. By controlling multiple stages of the lithium value chain, Ganfeng reduces reliance on external suppliers and strengthens its global competitive position in the rapidly growing battery sector.
Following its success in Mali, Ganfeng expanded its footprint through a joint venture with Lithium Africa Corp merger of Lithium Africa Resources with Canada’s Lombard Street Capital
