Mining & Trade News

Located in Balaka off the M1 road junction close to Senzani Trading Centre, Kangankunde mine is expected to open in November this year to become Malawi’s first rare earth mine. This appears like an economic milestone that Malawians were supposed to be celebrating. But the reality on the ground is different with business leaders painting a good picture of the project while a cross section of Malawians appear not convinced that the project will bring expected economic returns to locals.

Topical issues include that Australian-listed Lindian Resources is operating as a local company Rift Valley Resource Developments using a medium scale mining licence to run the globally significant project. This type of licence legally does not mandate the Company to sign a Mine Development Agreement that includes an equity sharing agreement with the Malawi Government and a Community Development Agreement with the local community.

Lindian is planning to launch commercial export of monazite concentrate to Kazakhstan for downstream processing in November this year, which is also sparking questions from Malawians on the project failing to meet the nation’s local value addition ambitions highlighted in Malawi 2063. I captured contrasting views from two commentators. Excerpts:

Michael Aldworth, CEO Farming & Engineering Services

Morning Marcel

I have followed with interest the recent series of articles published by Mining & Trade Review concerning the Kangankunde Rare Earth Project and the broader debate around how Malawi should benefit from its mineral resources.

Firstly, I would like to commend Mining & Trade Review for stimulating what is clearly an important national conversation.

The questions being raised around licensing, government participation, community benefits and value addition are legitimate issues that deserve public scrutiny and discussion.

However, I wonder whether there is an equally important aspect of the debate that has perhaps not received the same level of attention.

Many commentators have rightly argued that Malawi should not simply export raw minerals and should instead pursue greater local processing and beneficiation. As a principle, I believe most Malawians would agree with this objective. The question, however, is not whether we would like to see more processing take place in Malawi, but rather what conditions are required to make such processing commercially viable.

Rare earth processing is not a simple extension of mining. It requires reliable electricity, significant water resources, advanced chemical processing capability, specialist technical skills, environmental management systems and substantial supporting infrastructure. These are not obstacles unique to Malawi, but they are realities that every developing country seeking industrialisation must confront.

Perhaps the more important national discussion is therefore not whether companies should be encouraged to process minerals locally, but what Malawi must do to become a location where such investment naturally makes economic sense.

If Malawians wish to see processing plants, refineries, manufacturing facilities and higher-value industries established within our borders, then we must also ask difficult questions about energy security, transport infrastructure, industrial policy, foreign exchange availability, regulatory certainty and investment attractiveness.

As someone who has worked in Malawi for many years, I firmly believe the country possesses enormous potential. We have fertile land, mineral resources, a strategic location and a resilient population. What we need now is a national conversation that focuses not only on what investors should do for Malawi, but also on what Malawi must do to attract and retain the scale of investment required to transform the economy.

The Kangankunde project should therefore be viewed not only as a mining project, but also as an opportunity to have a broader discussion about industrialisation, infrastructure development and economic growth.

Ultimately, the goal should be the same for all stakeholders: ensuring that Malawi receives maximum long-term benefit from its natural resources while remaining a destination where investors have the confidence to commit capital, create jobs and contribute to national development.

Ronald Banda, Our Facebook follower

Open dialogue is important, particularly for a project of such national significance. However, several issues remain insufficiently addressed and continue to warrant legitimate public scrutiny.

Firstly, while Lindian argues that it is legally operating under a medium-scale mining licence because it does not yet meet the thresholds for a large-scale licence, many Malawians find it difficult to reconcile this position with repeated reports indicating that Kangankunde contains one of the world's most significant rare earth deposits. If the resource potential is indeed as substantial as has been presented to investors and international markets, then it is reasonable for citizens to ask what the long-term operational plan is and when the project is expected to transition from medium-scale operations to large-scale mining. Transparency on this matter would help build public confidence.

Secondly, Lindian's response does not adequately address the question of future ownership and participation by Malawians. Mining projects of strategic national importance should not only generate royalties and taxes but should also create pathways for meaningful local equity participation, whether through Government shareholding, pension funds, local institutions, or eventual listing on the Malawi Stock Exchange. The public deserves clarity on whether such opportunities are being considered and, if so, under what timeline.

Thirdly, while Lindian correctly points to infrastructure challenges relating to power, water, and industrial processing, the Company should adopt a more proactive approach. Historically, successful mining companies across the world have not merely adapted to existing infrastructure limitations; they have actively partnered with governments and development partners to develop the infrastructure necessary for long-term industrial growth. If roads can be constructed to support mining operations, then discussions around power generation, transmission, water systems, and industrial processing facilities should also form part of a broader development strategy for the region.

On downstream processing, the technical arguments advanced by Lindian may be valid in the short term. However, Malawians are justified in asking for a clear roadmap showing how value addition will progressively increase within Malawi. Exporting concentrate today may be commercially necessary, but what matters is the long-term vision. Citizens would like to see a phased plan demonstrating how processing capacity, skills transfer, technology transfer, and local industrial participation will be developed over time, with the ultimate goal of retaining a greater proportion of value within Malawi. A target of achieving significant local value addition in the medium to long term would be a positive commitment.

It is also important to address the suggestion that questioning aspects of the project could discourage investment. Such arguments should be approached with caution. Investors are not frightened by informed public debate; they are attracted by transparency, stability, good governance, and predictable regulatory environments. Citizens asking questions about their country's natural resources should not be made to feel guilty or portrayed as obstacles to investment. Africa's history contains numerous examples where natural resources generated enormous wealth but delivered limited benefits to local populations. It is therefore understandable that Malawians are taking a keen interest in ensuring that Kangankunde becomes a model of responsible and inclusive development rather than a repetition of past mistakes.

The conversation surrounding Kangankunde should not be framed as a conflict between investors and citizens. Rather, it should be viewed as a search for the best possible outcome for all stakeholders. Lindian deserves recognition for the investments and community projects it has undertaken thus far. Equally, Malawians have a right and responsibility to seek clarification on issues relating to licensing, ownership, value addition, infrastructure development, and long-term national benefits.

Ultimately, the objective is not to oppose investment but to ensure that the exploitation of Malawi's rare earth resources contributes meaningfully to economic transformation, job creation, industrialisation, technological advancement, and shared prosperity. Constructive questioning and accountability should therefore be welcomed as part of building a mining sector that serves both investors and the people of Malawi.

A survey conducted by the Malawi Women in Mining (MAWIMA) targeting their member cooperatives across Malawi has established that many women involved in mining activities are not aware of mining reforms that the Malawi Government is implementing in the sector.

Results of the survey highlights that a majority of women in mining are  ignorant of the reforms as no one has ever approached any of their cooperatives informing them of the  new laws and policies.

The survey results read: “The miners ae not aware of the reforms as there was nobody who visited the cooperatives to inform them of the current changes.” 

“Some gold miners only noticed that the gold buyers from other countries were not coming to buy gold from them, a situation which left them with the option to sell their products to Reserve Bank of Malawi through Export Development Fund (EDF).”

The survey also observes that some women miners especially in the southern region are only assisted by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) including Centre for Environmental Policy Advocacy to get paperwork done like a mining license, trade license and approvals from Malawi Bureau of Standards.

Despite the mining reforms, the women miners continue to face numerous challenges including unstable pricing at EDF where the miners are legally allowed to sell their products.

It also says the women are lacking finances to access deeper gold deposits as a result they use a lot of effort just to get little gold which does not fetch good money at EDF.  

The results read: “Government and other agencies should consider creating awareness on the reforms to small scale miners.”

“There is need for financial support to acquire gold mining equipment including jack hammers and purifying equipment; access to stable markets and; strengthening cooperatives formation so that they can sell their products as a single package in order to improve their earnings and socio-economic status.”

The Mines and Minerals Act 2023 incorporates gender provisions sections which include promoting gender-balanced employment and training; prioritizing Malawian and women-owned businesses in procurement; supporting women-led enterprises near mining sites and; fair compensation and inclusive engagement with women and vulnerable groups.

The Malawi Government is spearheading empowerment of women through Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) model targeting women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The model is designed to support cooperatives, training, and enterprise development.

In an interview, Director of Policy and Planning Unit in the Ministry of Mining Patricia Zimpita said the Ministry is more committed to support women in mining understanding that they dominate the ASM subsector of the country.  

“Gender inclusion in mining is not optional; it is essential. The Ministry is committed to turning legal promises into practical action. Together, with MAWIMA and all stakeholders, we can build a mining sector that works for all. Let us walk the talk on this reform journey hand in hand,” said Zampita.

Zampita said that the Ministry is committed to implement gender-responsive subsidiary regulations; launch a dedicated funding scheme for women in ASM; ensure 30% representation of women in all governance structures; institutionalize gender impact assessments for mining projects and scale up capacity-building and market access for women miners.

The Southern Africa Resources Watch (SARW) report of 2018 states that women cater for about 30 percent of Malawi’s ASM workforce.

MUST has introduced 10 new postgraduate programmes aimed at creating more opportunities for advanced learning, research and innovation.

The new programmes, which are at both masters and doctorate levels, have been introduced in areas such as science, engineering, technology and the arts.

According to MUST Postgraduate Coordinator, Dr Jabulani Nyengere, the expansion reflects the university’s commitment to preparing graduates with skills that can contribute to solving real-world challenges.

“As a university, we continue to look at areas where we can provide relevant and specialised training. These new programmes will allow more students to pursue advanced studies while contributing to research and development in Malawi and beyond,” said Dr Nyengere.

At doctorate level, MUST has introduced PhD programmes in Science Communication; Geo-Information Science, and Applied Mathematics.

The new masters programmes include Science Communication; Geo-Information Science; Minerals and Mining Governance; Power and Energy Systems; Environmental Engineering; Water Utilisation, Waste and Health Engineering, and Music.

Dr Nyengere said the programmes respond to the growing need for experts in key areas that support national development.

“We need more researchers, innovators and professionals who can provide knowledge-based solutions in different sectors. These programmes will help build that capacity,” he said.

The introduction of the new programmes adds to MUST’s growing postgraduate portfolio and supports the university’s vision of advancing research, innovation and human capital development.

With these new additions, MUST now has 31 postgraduate programmes on offer.

“Delays in formulating supporting regulations for mining laws costing Malawi”

Though over three years have elapsed since the Mines and Minerals Act 2023 came into force and about eight months since State President Arthur Peter Mutharika declared a ban on exportation of raw minerals, the Malawi Government is yet to gazette regulations for both pieces of legislation.

Government’s delay in formulating the regulations has attracted concerns from stakeholders in the mineral sector who feel it is a stumbling block to Malawi’s ambitions to transform mining into a major driver of economic growth.

National Coordinator for Natural Resources Justice Network Kennedy Rashid says Malawi’s mining sector is operating on a fragile foundation because the strength of any law depends on the existence of clear rules for implementation, and that although the Mines and Minerals Act provides a modern framework, its effectiveness remains largely theoretical without detailed regulations.

“The Act’s provisions are broad principles that require operational rules to be effectively implemented and enforced,” he says, adding that the continued reliance on old frameworks creates uncertainty in the sector.

Rashid warns that unclear rules create room for discretionary decisions, which may increase risks of corruption, weak enforcement and poor oversight.

“Where detailed rules are absent, decisions on licensing, compliance and penalties can be left open to interpretation,” he says.

Malawi is currently using the 2013 Mines and Minerals policy alongside regulations dating back to the 1980s, a situation critics say does not reflect the current direction of the mining industry, especially as the country positions itself as a destination for critical mineral investments.

This situation also raises concerns for communities living around mining areas. Although the mining law provides for Community Development Agreements, stakeholders argue that regulations are needed to define how communities negotiate benefits, receive compensations, and participate in decisions affecting their land and livelihoods.

Coordinator for Chamber of Mines and Energy Grain Malunga says the delay in gazetting the  regulations for both the 2023 Act and the ban on raw mineral exportation  presents a challenge because any law requires supporting regulations to guide its implementation. He says while government has a responsibility to ensure business continues and revenue is generated, operating without fully developed regulations risks creating uncertainty in the sector.

“The government needs to maintain open communication and ensure that stakeholders understand how decisions are being made. A responsible mining sector depends on clear rules, access to information and systems that protect both investment and interests of citizens,” he says.

Seasoned geologist and mineral sector consultant Ignatius Kamwanje says the delay in implementing mining regulations is also affecting projects’ transition from exploration to production.

Kamwanje explains that as a largely greenfield mining economy, the country still has many companies at the exploration stage, stressing that the move towards commercial production depends heavily on a clear and unpredictable regulatory environment.

The stakeholders also point out that the regulatory gap is creating missed opportunities for government revenue mobilization because without updated concrete frameworks, the country risks losing out on taxes, royalties, insurance obligations, possible equity benefits and community benefits expected from mining agreements due to failure of projects to move to production stage owing to unpredictable operating environment.

The delay has also facilitated illegal/ informal mining taking place in the country due to government’s failure to speed up and implement Artisanal and Smallscale Mining formalization process with clear licensing and regulatory guidelines.

The stakeholders observe  that the results of this delay include rampant illegal mining activities that are leading to health and safety risks and accidents in illegal gold mining hotspots, smuggling of precious minerals and severe environmental damage.

The delay in implementing regulations on Mutharika’s ban on exportation of raw minerals has, meanwhile, created confusion and resulted in former Director General of Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) Samuel Sakhuta authorizing ASX-listed Lindian Resources to export monazite concentrate from Kangankunnde Mine.

Lindian has consequently purchased a refinery for downstream processing of the concentrates in Kazakhstan. However, there is uncertainty that Government will authorize Lindian to kickstart commercial exportation of monazite concentrates as government sources confided to Mining & Trade Review  that the regulations for the ban awaiting gazetting contain thresholds to which all minerals must be processed before being cleared for export.

Monazite concentrate is the immediate step in downstream processing as the concentrate is further processed to mixed rare earth concentrate and later mixed rare earth oxide before the production of the separate high value rare earth elements for the production of strong magnets used by the high tech industry.

But Minister of Mining Thoko Tembo told Mining & Trade Review that he will follow up the issue of the formation of the regulations to ensure that the formulation process is expedited.

Mining & Trade Review is celebrating 17-years of newspaper publishing having produced the first edition in 2009.

Publishing Editor Marcel Chimwala thanks various stakeholders including the Malawi Government and players in the minerals sector in Malawi including mineral exploration and mining companies, equipment suppliers, consultants and readers for contributing to the survival and growth of the publication.

Chimwala says: “We are happy that we are celebrating 17 years on the market, able to publish regularly to an ever growing subscriber base. It has been a long journey that combines good and bad times. We started in 2009 as a newsletter for the Ministry responsible for Mining that came out once in that year.”

“Later we had stakeholders such as Mota-Engil, Globe Metals & Mining, Mkango Resources and Sovereign Metals coming in to advertise their exploration results. It is through untiring support from these stakeholders that we have survived over the years though support from government was stopped due to budgetary limitations,”

He explains that though the journey is still not smooth in financial terms, there is growth as the publication is now coming out twice a month and remarkably three times this June, with continuos daily online updates.

“We decided to publish this edition, a third one for June 2026, as a token of appreciation for the support we have been receiving from our readers over the years. We felt we should give them something extra to read,” Chimwala says.

He also thanks the newspaper’s staff and contributors for their continued dedication that is instrumental to the survival and growth of the newspaper.

Minister of Mining Thoko Tembo also hailed Mining & Trade Review for the role it is playing in informing and educating Malawians on mining issues.

He explained that President Dr Arthur Peter Mutharika’s government believes in transparency and accountability, which is a possibility with the help of such publications.

Mining & Trade Review appears in print and online on its website www.miningtradenews.com and Facebook Page Mining Review Malawi. The electronic copy of the publication is circulated online and through Whatsapp and other social media channels.

The Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) says it will not hesitate to grant a large-scale mining licence to Australia’s Lindian Resources for Kangankunde Rare Earth tenement in Balaka if the technical data submitted by the Company qualifies the project under the existing law governing the sector. the Mines and Minerals Act 2023.

MMRA says this in a letter responding to the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (CBEDI) Executive Director Silvester Namiwa who wrote the Authority demanding that it grants a large-scale mining licence to the Australian firm which is currently running the project using a medium scale mining licence.

The Mines and Minerals Act mandates a large-scale mining licence operator to sign a Mining Development Agreement (MDA) with government that specifies benefits for the mining company and the host nation from a mine. Government has the mandate to acquire minority shareholding in a large scale mine based on the MDA. Such attributes do not apply to a medium scale mining licence.

MMRA explains that Lindian is using the licence that it acquired from a local company Rift Valley Resources whose activities that time did not apply for a large-scale mining licence.

It states: “The Authority strongly refutes any suggestions that licensing decisions were made through secret agreements for the benefit of certain individuals. Should the project ultimately qualify, or be required to hold a large-scale mining licence, the full suite of protections and benefits available under the Act, Community Development Agreements and enhanced reporting obligations will apply.”

The Authority explains that based on the Law any upgrade from medium to large scale mining licence will require a fresh application from the Company for a large-scale mining licence, submission of full feasibility study meeting the requirements stated in the Act, revised environmental impact assessments and approvals and a government ownership interest agreement.

We appreciate the response by Lindian Resources and its partner Rift Valley Resource Developments to our opinion article on Kangankunde Rare Earth Mining project published on Mining & Social Issues column in mid April 2026 Edition. It is indeed important for Lindian to explain the topical issues raised in the article as Malawians are interested to get updates on Kangankunde, expected to be the first rare earth mine in Malawi, with the country rich in these globally important elements.

As Lindian quarries in its response, indeed no government nor Lindian official is quoted in the article. But we feel there is nothing wrong here because this is basically an opinion article published in an opinion column where members of the community including guest columnists discuss issue of public interest concerning the minerals sector.

What is important is that Lindian has confirmed the issues raised in the article namely its use of a medium scale mining licence, giving allowances to government officials and purchasing a refinery for Kangankunde rare earths in Kazakhstan.

Though we are aware of the provision for freedoms of the press, opinion and expression in the Republican constitution, we understand that we are merely scribes hence do not have the expertise to contend with Lindian lawyers led by Dr Kaphale.  We will, therefore, not risk arguing on the legal issues raised by the learned lawyers in their scrutiny of the said article.

However, we hail Lindian Resources for justifying the utilisation of the medium scale mining licence to manage Malawi’s globally-significant resource and purchasing a refinery to process Kangankunde concentrate in Kazakhstan other than setting up a refinery in Malawi understanding the higher costs of a large-scale mining investment compared to medium scale and the setting up of a local refinery compared to utilisation of an already developed facility in Kazakhstan.

These cost saving measures are crucial to generate the returns for investment including interest from Kangankunde for investors in Lindian who are mainly from Australia and the West.

We understand that these investors are eagerly waiting for returns from Kangankunde as some of them have invested their life time savings including pension funds and terminal benefits from employers.

But it must also be noted that there are Malawians in Kangankunde and surrounding villages failing to make ends meet.  Malawians at large also have great expectations on the project with the country struggling with shortage of foreign exchange.

It is, therefore, important for Lindian to balance its priorities and ensure that Malawi is also enjoying adequate benefits from Kangankunde,. Otherwise, we wish you all the best as you open the mine this year!   

The 9th Malawi Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (MWEITI) report has followed a series of corruption cases and governance challenges that have plagued the country’s mineral sector.

The report, covering the financial years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, highlights ongoing investigations, legal disputes, and allegations of illicit dealings involving government officials and mining companies.

It traces a high-profile case involving Nyala Mines, the previous operator of Chimwadzulu Corundum Mine, which is under investigation for unpaid taxes and royalties amounting to billions of kwacha. A legal claim filed in the US District Court in Washington seeks to recover approximately MWK 309.6 billion in unpaid dues from Colombia Gem House, the previous operator of Nyala Mines.

Despite the revival of the case in 2026, the report observes that progress remains slow, with courts yet to set a definitive hearing date.

The Ministry responsible for Mining refused to renew the mining licence for Nyala Mines and later granted the rights to a local company, Mwalawanga Mining, which is currently running the Chimwadzulu Mine in Ntcheu, globally recognized for producing quality ruby and sapphire.

Another significant concern raised in the report pertains to Chinese Company Mawei Mining, which operates the Makanjira Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Mangochi, which is suspected of transferring ownership using dubious channels. The company’s parent entity, Xinjin International, reportedly transferred majority control to Chinese state-linked firms, Shandong Zhaojin Ruining Mining Industries and Hainan International Resources. MWEITI says in the report that the Malawi government has launched an official investigation into these ownership changes, but clarity remains elusive as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has yet to access relevant investigation data.

The report also underscores the slow pace of investigations into allegations of bribery involving senior officials at the Ministry responsible for Mining pertaining to the renewal of the mining license for Ilomba Granite Mine in Chitipa. It reads that despite previous disclosures of suspected corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) reports that legal processes are still at an advanced stage but have experienced delays in court proceedings.

The report’s findings point to gaps in regulatory enforcement and the prevalence of illegal mining activities, factors that continue to undermine governance and fuel corruption. It stresses the urgent need for strengthened legal frameworks.

MWEITI says ongoing reforms, including the development of a Beneficial Ownership Disclosure (BOD) system and the revision of mining legislation, are critical steps toward curbing corruption and ensuring accountability.

In addition, the report calls for increased stakeholder engagement, stricter oversight, and public disclosure of all mining and licensing agreements.

As Malawi prepares for its upcoming independent EITI validation in 2026, experts warn that addressing these systemic issues is essential for attracting investment and safeguarding national resource wealth.

Malawi’s mineral sector remains a key driver of the country’s economic growth ambitions under Malawi Vision 2063. However, systemic governance flaws threaten to undermine progress. The report reveals a significant surge in sector revenues, which increased from MWK 56.64 billion in 2023/2024 to MWK 103.78 billion in 2024/2025. The mining sector remains the primary driver, accounting for 71.1% of total extractive revenues in 2023/2024 and rising to 84.8% in 2024/2025.

Key contributors include cement, uranium, and coal mining, with companies such as Shayona Cement, Cement Products Ltd, Portland Cement, Lotus Africa Ltd, and Kaziwiziwi Coal Mine leading the industry.

The report also highlights a surge in gold purchases by the Export Development Fund (EDF). Gold production increased from 89,053 grams in 2023/2024 to 163,680 grams in 2024/2025, driven largely by rising gold prices, which resulted in increased purchases.

A Mineral Resource Governance Framework  

Series: Malawi’s Critical Minerals Moment 

The global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy is no longer a distant ambition. It is already reshaping economies, industries, and development pathways across the world. Electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar technologies, battery storage systems, digital infrastructure, and other low-carbon systems all depend on minerals such as graphite, rare earth elements, lithium, rutile, uranium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese. As I have alluded to in my past three series in this newsletter, for our country Malawi, this transition presents both an opportunity and a governance test. An opportunity for economic transformation, but a test as to how well these energy transition minerals will be governed.  Malawi is increasingly recognized for mineral projects such as Songwe Hill rare earths in

Phalombe, Kangankunde rare earths in Balaka, Kasiya rutile and graphite on the Lilongwe Plain, and renewed interest in Kayelekera uranium in Karonga. These developments suggest that Malawi is moving from the margins of global mineral discussions into a critical minerals frontier, strategically being positioned within clean-energy supply chains.  

However, the key question is not simply whether Malawi has the minerals needed for the global energy transition. The more important question is whether these resources can be governed in ways that deliver inclusive development, protect the environment, strengthen communities, and avoid the mistakes that have long accompanied extractive economies. Across Africa and the Global South, mineral wealth has too often failed to produce broadbased prosperity. The “resource curse” describes how countries rich in minerals, oil, and gas can instead experience weak institutions, corruption, inequality, social conflict, and economic dependence. Malawi therefore has a rare opportunity: because many of its critical mineral projects are still emerging, it can design stronger governance systems before largescale extraction becomes deeply entrenched. Clean energy must not be built on old extractive injustices. If the shift from fossil fuels merely transfers environmental and social burdens from oil-producing regions to mineral-hosting communities, then it will not be a just transition. At the core of this transition are mining communities. They should not be treated as passive recipients of decisions made elsewhere externalised through a top-bottom approach to resource management. But they must be recognized as rights-holders, knowledge-holders, and development partners. In practical terms, this means that communities around mineral projects should be involved from the earliest stages of exploration, licensing, environmental assessment, mine development, production, closure, and post-mining land-use planning. Community participation must be institutionalized rather than treated as a one-off consultation exercise.

A Malawian mineral resource governance framework for the clean-energy transition should therefore rest on five pillars: community participation, environmental sustainability, value addition, institutional transparency, and long-term national development planning. The first pillar is community-centred governance. Mineral-host communities should have access to clear information about proposed mining activities, land requirements, environmental risks, employment opportunities, compensation procedures, and benefit-sharing arrangements. Consultation must be meaningful, culturally appropriate, and continuous. Where land, livelihoods, heritage, or customary rights are affected, the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent should guide engagement. Communities should also have access to grievance mechanisms that are trusted, affordable, and responsive. This is essential for building social licence to operate and reducing conflict between companies, government, and citizens.

The second pillar is environmental protection and mine accountability. Mining for cleanenergy minerals can still damage land, water, biodiversity, and public health if poorly managed. Malawi must therefore strengthen Environmental and Social Impact Assessment processes, improve environmental monitoring, and enforce mine rehabilitation and closure obligations. Mine closure bonds should be required so that companies set aside funds for rehabilitation before environmental damage occurs. Waste management, tailings safety, dust control, water stewardship, and biodiversity protection should be treated as central governance issues, not technical afterthoughts. Sustainability must be embedded in enforceable regulatory systems. The third pillar is local value addition and economic transformation. Malawi should avoid becoming only a supplier of raw minerals to external markets. Although full downstream processing may not be immediately possible for every mineral, the country can still pursue incremental value addition through mineral upgrading, beneficiation, local procurement, skills development, and infrastructure linkages. Domestic processing can create jobs, increase revenue, support industrial growth, and strengthen Malawi’s position in global value chains. However, this requires reliable electricity, transport infrastructure, technical skills, and investment in industrial capacity.

The fourth pillar is institutional transparency and accountable regulation. Strong institutions will determine whether Malawi’s mineral wealth becomes a catalyst for development or a source of inequality. Licensing systems should be clear and transparent, and mining contracts should be publicly accessible where possible. Institutions such as the Malawi Mining Regulatory Authority, Malawi Environmental Protection Authority, and Malawi Revenue Authority require technical capacity, independence, and resources to monitor compliance, collect revenues, and protect the public interest. Transparent governance also builds investor confidence, as responsible investors value predictable rules and public trust.

The fifth pillar is long-term development planning beyond the mine. Minerals are finite, and once extracted, they are depleted. Malawi must therefore ensure that mining revenues are invested in assets that continue to benefit the country after mines close. These include energy infrastructure, technical education, geological research, environmental monitoring systems, transport networks, local enterprise development, and economic diversification. Mining should not become an isolated enclave economy; it should support broader national development.

This governance framework also requires Malawi to define its own critical minerals strategy. Critical minerals are often defined by powerful industrial economies according to their own supply security and national security interests. What is critical to another country’s electric vehicle industry or defence system may not necessarily be critical to Malawi’s development priorities. Malawi should therefore identify which minerals are strategically important for national transformation, how they should be developed, and how benefits should be distributed.  

A clean-energy future must be built together with Malawian communities, not merely extracted from beneath their land. The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy will only be truly just if it also transforms mineral governance. Malawi’s mineral future is not predetermined. If the country strengthens institutions, protects communities, promotes value addition, and places sustainability at the center of governance, critical minerals can become more than export commodities. They can form the foundation for inclusive development, responsible industrialization, and a just transition that benefits both the world’s clean-energy ambitions and the Malawian people.