- Atlantic Lithium finds 11km lithium anomalies at Rubino and Agboville
- Côte d’Ivoire fast-emerging as key hub for West Africa’s battery metals
ABIDJAN, Côte D’IVOIRE – Atlantic Lithium has uncovered more than 11 kilometres of lithium-in-soil anomalies across its wholly owned Rubino and Agboville licences, positioning Côte d’Ivoire as one of West Africa’s most promising new frontiers for battery metals.
The discoveries – Rubino measuring 6 km × 2.5 km and Agboville extending beyond 5 km – include newly identified spodumene pegmatite float samples with assays of up to 1.36% Li₂O. The results highlight both geological and commercial potential in what has long been an under-explored lithium jurisdiction.
“Soil sampling for Phase 2 and Phase 3 has delineated extensive anomalies for lithium-in-soil up to some kilometres wide through the two licences, with some indications that are suitable for further evaluation,” said Atlantic Lithium CEO Keith Muller.
A total of 4,747 sample stations were tested across both areas. Phase 3 at Rubino extended the previously released anomalous belt 3.5 km northeast, while the Agboville results revealed irregularities following a northeast-southwest lithologic trend that correlates directly with the occurrence of float spodumene – a potential marker of pegmatite intrusions at depth.
Côte d’Ivoire’s lithium promise gains momentum
The company’s geological team has recommended an expedited ground follow-up and augering programme to confirm the subsurface potential. Beyond exploration, Atlantic Lithium has also appointed a specialist corporate adviser to source non-dilutive financing and explore joint-venture options to accelerate the project.
“The Company believes that its licences in Côte d’Ivoire demonstrate significant value potential through lithium exploration,” Muller said.
“To be undertaken alongside the advancement of our flagship Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghana, we have commenced a formal process to explore funding options, including minority, project-level investment or partnerships.”
Analysts say the twin-nation strategy – combining Ghana’s established progress with Côte d’Ivoire’s untapped potential – could strengthen Atlantic Lithium’s supply-chain resilience and regional influence.
“By 2027, 6%-plus annual demand growth for lithium is projected, and rapidly growing supply routes such as Côte d’Ivoire are vital,” Dominique Kibanza, African mining analyst told Allen Dreyfus. “By adopting a two-nation strategy, Atlantic Lithium has a compelling position to serve both regional and global markets.”
Côte d’Ivoire’s appeal extends beyond its rich geology. Its stable political environment, reliable infrastructure near Abidjan, and investment-friendly regulatory framework provide an attractive backdrop for long-term mining ventures. The country’s position within the mineral-rich Birimian belt – already home to major gold and base-metal deposits – reinforces its strategic significance for the global energy-transition supply chain.
With inflation, permitting slowdowns and geopolitical constraints threatening traditional lithium centres in South America and Australia, West Africa’s emergence could diversify global supply routes. The Rubino and Agboville finds, while still early stage, signal more than exploration success: they point to the rise of a potential new African lithium province feeding the world’s electrification drive.
