Malawi’s Songwe mining project prospects at $293m

Mkango Resources Limited, a mining company which was doing feasibility studies on Malawi’s Songwe Hill rare earth project has announced that prospects for the site stands at almost US$293 million for a projected 18-year life span.

In a statement which the company has released Chief Executive Officer William Dawes described the results of the feasibility study as a major milestone in the development of the mining project.

 William Dawes
William Dawes

“Since listing in 2011, Mkango has progressed an early stage exploration project to one of only three rare earth projects in Africa with a Pre-feasibility Study or Feasibility Study announced. We are very encouraged by the Project’s strong returns and relatively low capex (capital expenditure,” said Dawes.

The feasibility study report indicate that the mining project is capable of realizing US$293 million after-tax net present value (NPV) with its probable mineral reserve estimated at 8.5 million tonnes of rare earth oxide grading 1.6 percent.

The report further stated that using a 10% nominal discount rate, and 36% after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) and based on rare earth oxide (REO) prices equivalent to a total rare earth basket price of US$55.0 per kg is expected.

“The basket (REO) price reflects the selective removal of a large proportion of the cerium during the hydrometallurgical process which enhances the value of the product mix,” says the report.

The initial capital expenditure (Capex) is expected to be at US$217m, including a contingency of US$20m, which the report says is among the lowest in the rare earth sector.

The company further expects cash operating costs to average US$13.4 per kg for the first five years of production and US$17.0 per kg for the entire life of the mine.

“The Study assumes an additional cost of US$10.0 per kg to account for the cost or discount associated with toll separation or the sale of a mixed chemical concentrate,” reads the report.

The Feasibility Study results support the declaration of a maiden Probable Mineral Reserve Estimate of 8.5 million tonnes grading 1.60%.

“(This) is based on an open pit operation, using contract mining, with a mine life of 18 years commencing in 2017,” reads the study report.

The study also shows that there is potential to ‘significantly’ expand production or the mine life and for a lower strip ratio given the large additional Inferred Resource and potential to expand the Mineral Resource.

It adds: “This first phase of development envisages production of a high grade, critical and heavy rare earth enriched, purified chemical concentrate for toll treatment or sale, with annual production of approximately 2,840 tonnes per year of REO in concentrate.”

Mkango Resources Limited is a Canadian based company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. As a mineral exploration and development company Mkango Resources focuses on rare earth elements and associated minerals in Malawi.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
29 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
gulukunyinda
gulukunyinda
9 years ago

Govt has decided to move this rare earth mining from songwe to chinakanaka to be close to the mining school of MUST.

mlomwe wa nzeru
mlomwe wa nzeru
9 years ago

we shall be there we have avast experience of the earthmoving machine we got from vale mining muatize,Rio tinto and jindal africa in tete now is our turn to goto the origin team nyasaland amene zimuwawe akaziponye ku lake malawi

Malawi Speech
Malawi Speech
9 years ago

Not In Karonga Again! People Are Tired Kumapusisidwa Zitukuko

Ifeyo
Ifeyo
9 years ago

Sorry guyz but this Songwe mining project of rare earth minerals is not in Karonga district. It is in Phalombe district !

Mwana wa Mfumu M'vonye
Mwana wa Mfumu M'vonye
9 years ago

MKA -TSA (Mkango Resources – Toronto Stock Exchange) is but a penny stock, nothing more. And I would not invest in this kind of company – reminds of the penny stocks during the high tech era. Again like Kayerekera, we are dealing with rare earths here. Dangerous minerals in terms of personal and environmental safety.
A lifespan of eighteen years is not worth it. Nothing to write home about; let alone to boast about.

Malindima
Malindima
9 years ago

A cost of mine closure rehabilitation not specifically included. They will leave a hole after 18 years mind you!
What are the effects of this commodity interms of environmental impact? We need more info.

Mabasa
Mabasa
9 years ago
Reply to  Malindima

You will need to get hold of the Environmental Impact Assessment report for you to have that information.If our laws which govern mining activities are updated and enforced accordingly,the company would not just leave without rehabilitating the affected environs.

Malawian Jew
9 years ago

I urge the Karongians to withhold the commencement of the mining project until the dust of Federalism is settled. Otherwise history will be repeated with reference to Kayerekera mines bad memories.

Frances Tyler
Frances Tyler
9 years ago

Tell me, Why would anybody want to mine in Malawi? The CSOs and greedy Chiefs are already licking their chops looking at this one. And all the royalties will disappear, never to be seen or heard of again. Then the mining company will be blamed for everything while the government sits in silence. Sound familiar?

wafika
9 years ago

And somebody thinks as a Federal Government the self administering state would not be able to last long. The human resource is there. do not think of infrastructure because those yo implement and it is the human resources that does the implementation. there is going to be a lot of employement for everybody in Malawi for all 3 governments. Some people talk of chasing people away from the other regions but the north talk of employing everybody despite being a southerner.

Yembekedzani kuti muone zo zizwa.

MAKONOKAYA
9 years ago

BASI WAKU THENGERE BASI WOYEEEE !!!

Read previous post:
MCP shadow cabinet raises questions on nepotism

The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has attracted criticism following the release of its shadow Cabinet which observers have said is...

Close