Mkango successfully completes flotation pilot plant programme for rare earths project in Phalombe
Mkango Resources Limited the dual listed Canadian & UK stock exchange listed company has announced the successful completion of the flotation pilot plant for the Songwe Hill Rare Earths project in Phalombe.
A pilot plant provides detailed engineering data required to develop a final process flow sheet.
Mkango’s pilot plant programme has been completed at ALS Metallurgy in Perth, Australia derived from the 60 tonne rare earth bulk sample previously shipped from Malawi.
The programme was effective in scaling up a new, optimised flotation regime for the project.
Mkango Resources Limited chief executive officer William Dawes observed in a statement made available to Nyasa Times that the results of the flotation pilot programme will be announced in due course, and the flotation concentrate produced will be supplied to ANSTO in Australia for hydrometallurgical piloting.
Dawes,said pre-piloting test work is already underway at ANSTO in preparation for pilot testing of the front end of the hydrometallurgical processing flow sheet.
“Rare earth prices continue to rise and concerns over security of supply provide a very favourable market backdrop for Malawi, with accelerating demand geared to growth in electric vehicles, wind power and green technology applications,”he said.
Mkango Resources Limited added:“We are very pleased to have completed this major milestone for the project and look forward to updating the market when the results are available.
“The smooth commissioning of the flotation pilot plant is a strong credit to the ALS Metallurgy team, as well as Mkango’s technical consultants and advisors. The flotation pilot plant provides Mkango’s lead engineers, SENET (a DRA Global Group company), with essential operating data for the feasibility study and to assist in engineering the company’s commercial scale operation.”
In an interview last week, Dawes said the start of pilot plant processing is a major milestone for both Malawi and Mkango, as the Songwe Rare Earth project now joins the ranks of the very few rare earths projects worldwide that have been advanced to this stage of development.
Malawi’s mining Minister Rashid Gaffar, while expressing satisfaction with the progress made at Songwe Hill, said he is hopeful that the contribution of revenue generated from loyalties and taxes in the mining sector to gross domestic product (GDP) would increase from the one percent to 30 percent in the medium-long term.
Mkango is developing the 51 percent owned Songwe Hill rare earths project in the country with the ongoing feasibility study funded through a £12 million investment by strategic partner Talaxis Limited.
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The mineral there is Lithium that is used for electric Vehicles and it’s very expensive.
We should not should let it go for sand and for granted.
It’s also on their website for
Kodi wawa, kwa Nambazo umakudziwa? Mgodi umenewu umautsata bwino bwino? Kofi ukufuna a CERT za mkangano wa iwe ndi ine. Ndidzakutenga tsiku lina kuti ukauwone mgodi umenewu.
Note there is only one rare earth mine in the US, and very few outside China.
My question is how are we as a nation benefiting and how much. Parliament please respond as you hold people to account.
Well I’m sure the reporter the minister, the entire cabinet, the president, all readers including myself have understood zilch about this development. It would be nice if we had specialised reporters who could break it down for some of us. EXAMPLE Where exactly are we in the process before we start mining. How many other processes exist after this stage. How long should we expect it to take Will we be exporting pure dirt or there will be an element of processing before it gets exported. What possible obstacles might exist before it’s starts. What exactly is this flotation. Thins… Read more »
The just posted the press release from the company.
Aiming to educate readers is a skill or motive most ‘journalists’ everywhere lack these days..
The aim is to ‘entertain’ and stir up controversy..
For example against the mining company or the government..
In the meantime the poor people of Phalombe and other rural areas continue to starve..
Kumeneku ndiko kwathu ku Phalombe kwa Thumbulu. Kofi a Gaffar, zimenezi anthu akudziwa phindu lawo? Kodi Mkaka sadayenera kutikonzera nseu was Swang’oma kudzera Mwananyani kapena Bokhobokho? Bwinotu tikuziwonatu.
iwetu wabodza. Mmesa Thumbulu ali kuchiradzulu. Ndipo Chiradzulu wake wa nasasamba ku namitambo uko.
Nawenso iwe, timati Thumbulu ngati waku Chiradzuloyo? Asaaaaa, timati ku Thumbwe! But if they say, Phalombe, then its not Thumbwe.
A pilot flotation plant in Australia and not right there in Phalombe? So you will continue sending samples to Australia? Have a watchful eye here. Need a team of Malawi representatives based at this plant to account for all the processes of our samples.
I can volunteer. Will be traveling there mid year.
Why the plant in Australia and not in Malawi?.
Isn’t this the welesky way of doing things?
There must be a better way of doing it than this one if a local Malawian is ndeed to benefit.
The leadership must take it’s role and question some of these questionable acts.
Malawi might not have the technical known and materials to undertake a pilot rare earth floatation plant. Actually this is not a the actual plant to be used but will form as the basis for the making of the final plant.
Good move to the nation of Malawi.
That will contribute towards the nation’s GDP & improve the standards of living.
You think so. I does not trickle down to the local man just like that. Mining has never benefited alocal man world over. Tel me where?
Maybe Botswana..
Mpaka 60 tones ya sample fodya uyu .Stop this so called mining fraud in this country tatopa nazo asaaa.