Mkango Resources starts flotation pilot testing
Canadian / UK dual stock exchange listed Mkango Resources Limited has commenced a flotation pilot plant test work for the Songwe Hill Rare Earths project in the country.
A pilot plant provides detailed engineering data required to develop a final process flow sheet.
In a published statement on Wednesday, the firm said the selection and piloting of the flotation processing flowsheet is an integral part of the feasibility study and a critical step towards commercialisation of the Songwe rare earth project.
The feed for the flotation pilot plant has been derived from the 60 tonne rare earth bulk sample previously shipped from Malawi to Australia.
Mkango Resources Limited chief executive officer William Dawes observed in the statement that the start of pilot plant processing is a major milestone for the company.
He added that Mkango joins the ranks of the very few rare earths projects that have been advanced to this stage of development.
He said: “Mkango is uniquely positioned in the rare earths sector with an integrated ‘mine, refine, recycle’ strategy encompassing sustainably sourced rare earths from Malawi, rare earth magnet recycling in the UK, via its interest in HyProMag, and strategic options to develop EU and UK rare earth separation and refining capacity.”
Flotation is a key part of the processing flowsheet for Songwe with significant test work having been completed in South Africa, Canada and Australia in order to increase grade and recovery from those in Mkango’s previously announced pre-feasibility study.
Earlier, mining Minister Rashid Gaffar, while expressing satisfaction with the progress made at Songwe Hill, said he is hopeful that the contribution of revenue generated from loyalties and taxes in the mining sector to gross domestic product (GDP) would increase from the one percent to 30 percent in the medium-long term.
Mkango is developing the 51 percent owned Songwe Hill rare earths project in the country with the ongoing feasibility study funded through a £12 million investment by strategic partner Talaxis Limited.
Following completion of the Feasibility Study, Talaxis has an option to acquire a further 26 percent interest in Songwe by arranging financing for project development including funding the equity component thereof.
