ASX-listed Chilwa Minerals has announced an agreement with fellow ASX-listed company Lindian Resources to prepare monazite drill samples from the Kangankunde Rare Earth Prospect at Chilwa’s Sample Preparation Laboratory in Zalewa.
The agreement allows material from Lindian’s grade control drilling program at the Kangankunde Rare Earth Project to be processed locally before export for assaying, supporting the project’s progress toward production.
Under the arrangement, samples from Kangankunde are being prepared at Chilwa’s purpose-built laboratory, officially opened by Malawi’s Minister responsible for Mining in November 2024. Grade control drilling is a critical component of mine planning and is expected to support Lindian’s efforts as it moves closer to commencing mining operations at Kangankunde, targeted for November this year.
Lindian Executive Chairman Robert Martin commented: “Our technical team recently visited the Chilwa laboratory at Zalewa and were impressed with the setup and standards of the operations. It is a well-run, professional facility that meets the standards we require for our grade control sample preparation. Using this facility will expedite our grade control assessment as we move toward mining operations at Kangankunde. This is an example of the collaboration between emerging mining companies within the Malawian mining community, and we would like to thank Cadell Buss and his team at Chilwa Minerals for making capacity available for our requirements.”
Chilwa Minerals’ Managing Director Cadell Buss also commented: “We were more than happy to oblige the Lindian team. Kangankunde is a world-class asset, and the sooner they are in operation, the better it is for other explorers and the broader mining sector in Malawi. Having a project of this caliber progressing toward production is tremendously positive for the country’s critical minerals industry.”
Buss noted that while the income from this arrangement is not material to Chilwa, the company is pleased to assist Lindian with the request, which independently confirms the technical capabilities of Chilwa’s in-country team and facilities.
Despite the ban on the export of raw minerals declared by State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, former Director General of the Malawi Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority, Samuel Sakhuta, authorised Lindian to export monazite concentrates from Kangankunde — one of the largest rare earth deposits in the world, with global significance.
