Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are pushing higher on Tuesday after the company announced another major operational milestone.
In early trade, the Core Lithium share price is up 5.88% to 27 cents.
The gain comes after the lithium miner confirmed that open-pit mining at its Grants deposit will begin immediately, marking the first stage of the Finniss Lithium Project restart.
Core Lithium remains one of the ASX's strongest recovery stories, with its share price still up 347% over the past 12 months.
The positive move suggests investors are continuing to back the Finniss restart timeline as the company shifts from planning into execution.
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Mining restart moves from plan to execution
According to the release, Core Lithium has awarded the surface mining contract for the Grants open pit to NRW Pty Ltd.
Mobilisation is set to begin immediately.
The contract covers all key mining activities required to deliver ore to the Grants run-of-mine pad.
Management said this is a key first step in the restart of mining operations at Finniss following last month's final investment decision (FID).
The company expects the optimised Grants pit design to provide access to about 784kt of ore, which is forecast to produce roughly 134kt of SC6 spodumene concentrate over a short timeframe.
Ore from Grants is scheduled to be processed and hauled during the September quarter. First spodumene concentrate shipments are targeted for early in the December quarter.
This near-term production profile may be appealing to investors because it gives Core Lithium a pathway back to revenue using existing infrastructure and relatively low upfront capital.
Why the market is backing the Finniss restart
While the update supports the Finniss restart, today's share price gain suggests investors are responding positively to the move into active mining works.
The company approved the Finniss restart less than 3 weeks ago. That decision followed a funding package of more than $300 million across debt, equity, and strategic support.
With funding secured, investors now turn to whether Core Lithium can meet production and shipment targets through the second half of 2026.
Execution remains the next key focus, with mobilisation, processing readiness, and lithium pricing all likely to influence whether the rally can continue.
Foolish Takeaway
Today's announcement moves Core Lithium another step closer to turning its Finniss restart strategy into cash flow.
After a 347% gain over the past year, today's rise suggests investors remain confident in the company's near-term production pathway.
The next major catalyst is likely to be first ore movement and confirmation that September quarter processing remains on schedule.
