An Australian mining company has announced a significant development in its Nigerian operations following the approval of six mining licences by the country’s Mineral Control authority (MCO).
The licences—comprising four exploration permits and two small-scale mining licences—were transferred from Continental Lithium Limited to C&C Minerals Limited, the company’s local joint venture arm. The assets span the Fonlo, Gbugbu, Saki, and Iganna project areas in Nigeria.
According to the company, this approval marks a major milestone in consolidating its control over key lithium assets and advancing its acquisition of a 66.667% stake in C&C Minerals, while Continental Lithium retains 33.333%.
Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Shanthar Pathmanathan, described the development as a landmark moment, noting it represents the first entry of an ASX-listed lithium company into Nigeria’s emerging lithium sector, which he said hosts lithium pegmatites already producing spodumene for international markets but remains largely underexplored.
Further regulatory approvals are still pending for four additional licences in Saki and Iganna.
Independent laboratory tests conducted by the University of British Columbia confirmed the presence of high-value spodumene across all sampled sites. The analysis showed lithium oxide grades between 2.66% and 5.96%, with spodumene making up 28.4% to 75.3% of crystalline content—an indicator of strong mineral potential.
The findings also revealed elevated caesium levels, including pollucite concentrations of up to 9.5% in one sample, suggesting strong lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite potential.
The company says these results significantly strengthen its exploration outlook, reduce project risk, and support plans to accelerate drilling, fieldwork, and potential early-stage mining development in Nigeria.
