Lindian Resources Nears First Rare-Earths Output at Malawi’s Kangankunde Mine

Lindian Resources is accelerating the development of its Kangankunde rare-earths project in Malawi. The company has already stockpiled 125,000 tonnes of run-of-mine ore on the pad, a move intended to de-risk the start-up phase of the processing plant. Mining operations at the stage-one pit are proceeding around the clock, with drill-and-blast, ore haulage and stockpiling all underway. Construction of the plant’s mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation systems is described as “night and day,” while bulk earthworks for the tailings storage facility are complete and a 33-kilovolt power infrastructure is substantially advanced. Commissioning of the plant is slated for the end of the month following the September 24, 2026 report, positioning the first monazite concentrate for production shortly thereafter.

The Sydney Morning Herald

The project’s labor force is overwhelmingly Malawian. More than 85 % of Lindian’s direct employees are local, and the broader construction workforce exceeds 3,000 people, the vast majority of whom are also Malawian nationals. This employment surge is highlighted as a key driver of jobs, skills development and regional economic growth.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Kangankunde hosts one of Africa’s largest rare-earth deposits, estimated at 261 million tonnes grading 2.19 % total rare-earth oxides (TREO). Within this, a high-grade core of 26 million tonnes at 3.7 % TREO is earmarked as the initial feed for the stage-one plant. Lindian has broadened its value-chain exposure through a strategic interest in the SARECO processing facility in Kazakhstan and a partnership with French processing specialist Carester to develop an oxide-separation plant at the same site. An offtake agreement secures future high-value heavy-rare-earth products for the company.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Malawi’s Honourable Minister of Mining Thoko Tembo emphasized that the project’s benefits extend beyond revenue, citing job creation and broader development opportunities for local communities. The government’s broader agenda to capture greater value from the mining sector aligns with Lindian’s “mine-to-product” strategy, which integrates extraction, processing and downstream development across multiple jurisdictions.

The Sydney Morning Herald

• “We expect a lot more than just revenue. We’ve got the jobs that the project will create, and the local people who will be supplying it. Not just from the tax - we expect that Kangankunde can open doors, develop Malawi and help with other areas as well.” — Honourable Minister, of Mining, Thoko Tembo

The Sydney Morning Herald