Atlantic Lithium Ltd on Tuesday said that the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency has authorised the diversion of two transmission lines running across planned mining areas within the Mankessim prospecting licence, which holds it flagship Ewoyaa lithium project in Ghana.

Atlantic Lithium is a Sydney-based, Africa-focused lithium exploration and development firm with assets in Ghana and Ivory Coast.

In June, Atlantic Lithium had requested that the transmission lines be diverted to the northern border of the licence to enable the company to start early works at the project.

As of Tuesday’s announcement, EPA approval has now been granted up to March 24, 2025, enabling Ghana Grid Company Ltd, which owns the National Interconnected Transmission System in Ghana, to carry out the diversion of the lines on behalf of Atlantic Lithium.

The firm is currently waiting for a ministerial grant of the mining lease for Mankessim, which it needs to advance the project towards construction.

Last Thursday, Atlantic Lithium met with Samuel Jinapor, Ghana’s minister of lands and natural resources, alongside representatives of the Minerals Commission, the Minerals Income Investment Fund and the Ghana Stock Exchange, in order to finalise the lease.

It said that it was ‘pleased’ with the progress of its application, and expects the lease to be granted shortly.

‘At Ewoyaa, we consider ourselves exceptionally fortunate to be able to leverage Ghana’s impressive existing infrastructure and the considerable expertise from over a century of mining activity in the country. We believe these elements play a major role in positioning the project as one of the leading hard rock spodumene assets globally,’ said Chief Executive Officer Keith Muller.

Atlantic Lithium shares were trading 2.2% lower at 24.98 pence each in London on Tuesday afternoon.

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