Global Li-ion cheers lifting of permit suspension

Executive Summary

• Madagascar has lifted a 16‑year suspension on the issuance of mining permits (excluding gold), enabling new permit applications for projects such as Global Li‑ion’s Ambato‑Arana graphite mine.
• The new permitting system combines small‑scale licences, competitive tenders for industrial projects, and oversight by the Mining Brigade, improving transparency and predictability for foreign investors.
• Chairman Jason Walsh highlighted the change as a “major step forward” that restores confidence for capital deployment into the Ambato‑Arana graphite project.

Key Details

• The Minister of Mines and Strategic Resources, Carl Andriamparany, announced the suspension lift, signaling government support for strategic minerals (nickel, cobalt, graphite) critical to the energy transition.
• Madagascar’s new permit framework includes:
• Authorizations for small‑scale operators.
• Competitive tenders for larger industrial projects.
• Review and enforcement by the Mining Brigade.
• As of the end of 2025, 1,650 mining permits were pending approval (per an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report).
• Ambato‑Arana project comprises three 40‑year renewable exploitation licences covering 4,375 ha (10,811 acres) near Andasibe, Toamasina province.
• Location advantages: ~20 km SW of the Ambatovy nickel/cobalt mine and ~15 km NE of Moramanga, with road access to Antananarivo (114 km) and the port of Toamasina (240 km).
• Historical production: graphite mined intermittently since 1910; halted previously due to market slump.
• Current resource characteristics:
• Carbon content up to 10 %, with some samples near 14 %.
• Large‑flake (“jumbo”) material comparable to nearby projects (e.g., Gallois, Sahamamy, Vatomina, Vohitsara).
• Deposits occur in north‑south belts within the Manampotsy formation, amenable to open‑pit, free‑digging methods that avoid blasting and reduce costs.
• Chairman Jason Walsh quote: “This is a major step forward for the mining industry in Madagascar as it allows foreign capital to invest with confidence in mining projects like Global Li‑Ion's Ambato‑Arana graphite mine.”

Notable Quotes

Jason Walsh, Chairman: “This is a major step forward for the mining industry in Madagascar as it allows foreign capital to invest with confidence in mining projects like Global Li‑Ion's Ambato‑Arana graphite mine.”