Ore Stockpile at Malawi's Kangankunde Rare Earth Project Increases to 149,000 Tonnes

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 16, Australian mining company Lindian Resources announced the latest construction progress at its Kangankunde rare earth project in Malawi. The ore stockpile at the run-of-mine pad has increased to approximately 149,000 tonnes, up about 24,000 tonnes from September, an increase of approximately 19%. The project plans to commence first production of monazite concentrate in December 2026, with a Phase 1 designed annual output of 15,300 tonnes and a target total rare earth oxide grade of 55% in the concentrate.

Commissioning of the project's 33 kV overhead transmission line to the transformer yard has been completed. Two 1,250 kVA transformers have passed factory acceptance testing and been delivered back to site, with power supply to the plant area scheduled for completion in the first week of November. Following energization, motor testing, production control system startup and electrical commissioning will be carried out sequentially to prepare for the introduction of ore to the processing plant for trial runs.

Structural steel installation in the processing plant's wet high-intensity magnetic separation and multiple gravity separation areas is approximately 90% complete, shaking table installation is approximately 80% complete, and the regrind mill has been fully installed. Pump equipment in the separation system has been positioned, and associated piping installation continues. The remaining works on the tailings storage facility are scheduled for completion in November.

Production mining operations have commenced at the mine, with ongoing grade control drilling and ore sampling to schedule subsequent feed to the processing plant. The first batch of operational personnel has arrived on site, operator training has been initiated in parallel, and the concentrate off-take logistics contract is nearing completion. Phase 1 of the project has a planned mine life of approximately 45 years, with subsequent staged expansion plans targeting monazite concentrate annual production of up to 120,000 tonnes.