en.Wedoany.com Reported - Lindian Resources has successfully completed its first production blast at the Kangankunde Rare Earth Project in Malawi, marking the start of active mining operations and a key step in the company's transition from project developer to rare earth producer.
Zac Komur, Executive Director of Lindian Resources, stated that the successful completion of the first production blast represents a definitive execution milestone for the company. In less than 12 months since the final investment decision, Lindian has advanced from the construction phase to the mining phase, with ore now delivered to the run-of-mine (ROM) pad, ready for the commissioning of the processing plant later this year. Komur noted that this is a significant de-risking step for the project. By commencing mining and building a ROM stockpile before commissioning, the company ensures that the processing plant will have ore available from day one, facilitating a smoother startup and strengthening the pathway to first production in the fourth quarter of this year. He pointed out that this milestone was achieved safely and on schedule, with outstanding performance from the mining, drilling and blasting, construction, and site teams, reflecting the discipline, capability, and commitment demonstrated as the project transitions from development to operations. With mining underway, ore already on the ROM pad, and construction progressing, Kangankunde remains firmly on track to become one of the world's newest rare earth producers.
Lindian stated that the first production blast was executed on the initial mining bench under the leadership of Mining Manager Samuel Boachie and his team, following the completion of a comprehensive drilling and blasting preparation plan. This plan included completing all regulatory approvals, commissioning the explosives magazine, verifying blast designs, and implementing the approved blast management plan. A total of 206 production holes were drilled for the first blast, with a combined depth of 566.5 meters, and approximately 3.2 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) explosives were loaded into the blast pattern. The blast successfully fragmented approximately 13,100 tonnes of material, including an estimated 5,500 tonnes of ore, with good fragmentation results meeting design expectations. Excavation and haulage operations commenced immediately after the blast, with ore now being transported via newly completed haul roads to the project's initial ROM pad, ready for processing plant commissioning. The company stated that by building a substantial ROM stockpile before commissioning, the processing plant will have available ore inventory at startup, thereby reducing commissioning risks and supporting a more efficient transition to commercial production.
Lindian noted that the successful completion of the first blast is another important execution milestone for Kangankunde, indicating that the project is steadily transitioning from the construction phase into the operational phase, and the company is moving towards first production later this year. With mining already started and ore inventory beginning to accumulate, Kangankunde has entered the final development stage before commissioning. Construction activities continue across all major work fronts, with front-end commissioning targeted for October, practical completion targeted for mid-November, and first production still on schedule for the fourth quarter of this year.
