ASX 300-listed Lindian Resources has the pedal to the metal at its Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi, with construction hitting key milestones as it heads towards first monazite concentrate production in December.
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it → list → December
Kangankunde’s sheer scale has captured global attention, with the project considered one of Africa’s most significant rare earths deposits.
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project → capture → deposits
It hosts a massive 261-million-tonne resource grading an impressive 2.19 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO).
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It → host → oxides
Within that inventory is a high-grade core of 26 million tonnes at a hefty 3.7 per cent TREO, earmarked as the initial feed for the stage-one plant.
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core → earmark → plant
The company says its construction and operational readiness activities are progressing on multiple fronts.
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activities → say → fronts
The installation of shaking tables is 80 per cent done, while the crucial regrind mill has been installed and piping is being laid.
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piping → shake → tables
On the power front, the 33-kilovolt overhead transmission line has now been commissioned through to the transformer yard.
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line → commission → yard
Both of its 1250 kilovolt-ampere plant transformers have passed factory acceptance testing in Malawi and are back on site, ready to be fired up in the first week of November.
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Both → pass → November
Lindian says this will allow time for motor testing and electrical commissioning ahead of introducing the first ore to the plant.
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this → say → plant
‘Every milestone brings us closer to becoming a rare earths producer.
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milestone → bring → producer
While construction pushes ahead, mining operations have continued to swell run-of-mine (ROM) stockpiles.
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operations → push → stockpiles
The company says it now has 149,000 tonnes of ore on the ROM pad, up 19 per cent from the 125,000 tonnes held in September.
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it → say → September
Mining has also moved to the pit’s upper levels, with drilling underway from the top of the hill to open up additional mining faces.
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drilling → move → faces
Lindian executive director Zac Komur said: “Kangankunde is in the final stretch of construction.
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Kangankunde → say → construction
The plant is taking shape, ore stockpiles are growing and our focus is on completing the remaining work and commissioning safely.
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focus → take → work
Every milestone brings us closer to becoming a rare earths producer.”
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milestone → bring → producer
Lindian’s push to become Africa’s next rare earths producer is playing out against a backdrop of intense global competition for the critical minerals.
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push → become → minerals
Rare earths have become a focal point of supply chain security, with the International Energy Agency warning that industries from automotive and defence to electronics face significant exposure to Chinese supply constraints.
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industries → become → constraints
This has sparked a flurry of dealmaking, with rare earths accounting for more than nine per cent of global mining and metals transaction value in the first half of this year.
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earths → spark → year
Major financing and acquisitions have been seen in Australia, Brazil and the United States as the West tries to build out alternative supply chains.
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West → see → chains
Notably, stage one of the Kangankunde project is fully funded through to production, backed by a long-term strategic partnership and offtake deal with major mineral sands producer Iluka Resources.
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stage → fund → Resources
The project’s progress also appears to have the support of the Malawian government, which has a stated policy of encouraging in-country value-addition for its minerals before export.
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which → appear → export
Importantly for the company’s social licence to operate, locals make up 85 per cent of Lindian’s direct workforce of 3000 people, overwhelmingly Malawian nationals, currently employed across the broader construction of the project.
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locals → operate → project
Lindian’s on-site concentrate production dovetails neatly with its broader downstream ambitions, having also acquired the SARECO mixed rare earth carbonate processing facility in Kazakhstan to capture more value from its Malawian product.
The company has also locked in a partnership with French processing expert Carester to develop an oxide separation facility in Kazakhstan, along with a binding offtake agreement for its future high-value heavy rare earth products.
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company → dovetail → products
This, combined with its portfolio of bauxite assets in Guinea and Tanzania, positions the company as an increasingly diversified international player with operations spanning multiple commodities and jurisdictions.
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This → combine → commodities
With the plant taking shape and power about to flow, Lindian is almost set for the transition to full-time operations.
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Lindian → take → operations
The first plant supervisor and two control room operators are on the books and operator training has begun.
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training → begin → books
Key consumables have been secured and outbound logistics contracts covering rail transport and freight forwarding are now being finalised for execution ahead of the first shipment.
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contracts → secure → shipment
As the clock ticks down to its December production target, Lindian appears to be in the box seat and speeding towards delivering a new, large-scale source of rare earths into a market that is crying out for supply chain diversity.
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that → tick → diversity
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting?
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company → list → something
The Aporia
