Mining & Trade News

Kangankunde advances toward first concentrate with over 125,000 tonnes of ore stockpiled as Minister of Mining visits project

By Marcel Chimwala

Minister of Mining Honourable Thoko Tembo, MP, has hailed ASX-Lindian Resources for making tremendous progress in the development of its flagship Kangankunga Rare Earth Project saying Malawi is looking forward to increased benefits from the mine when goes into production.

Tembo was speaking when he toured the mine in located in Balaka District in the Company of officials of his Ministry. The Minister conducted the first blast to mark the launch of mining at the site after missing the initial function. 

He said: “As government, we are very happy that Lindian has taken the initiative. We have been having problems with electricity, and they have taken the initiative to set up a solar plant. This is something we would encourage a lot of mining companies to do, and we arre very happy that they have done that.”

“We expect a lot more than just revenue. We have got the jobs that the project will create, and the local people who will be supplying it. Not just from the tax - we expect that Kangankunde can open doors, develop Malawi and help with other areas as well.”

Lindian’s Executive Director, Zac Komur described the visit by the Minister and his Malawi Government delegation as an honour for the company.

Komur said:  “What is most encouraging when you walk the site today is how clearly Kangankunde is moving from construction into operations. The plant is taking shape quickly, mining is established and the focus of the team is increasingly on finishing systems, commissioning and preparing to operate the asset.”

“The progress is visible across the whole site, but what stands out most is the commitment of the people delivering it. Our team, contractors and Malawian workforce are working with real purpose and pride, and that is what is driving the momentum we are seeing.”

“It was an honour to welcome the Honourable Minister of Mining and the Government of Malawi delegation to Kangankunde. Being able to show the progress first hand and discuss the opportunities the Project is creating through employment, skills development, local procurement and future exports reinforces the significance of what is being built here.”

“We are now focused on execution through the final stages of construction and into commissioning. Every completed system takes us another step closer to production.”

Kangankunde site progress

Kangankunde is entering an important phase of execution as the Project progresses from major construction into system completion, commissioning and start up. Mining operations are established, substantial ore feedstock has been built ahead of commissioning and process plant construction is continuing around the clock as mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation works advance across multiple areas.

The Company’s immediate focus is on completing the remaining construction scope, energising the plant and progressively commissioning individual systems. Practical Completion of the Stage 1 process plant is on track, with first ore introduction and first production of Monazite Concentrate targeted by the end of 2026.

Mr Komur said the Minister of Mining’s site visit provided an opportunity to inspect the progress of development firsthand and discuss Kangankunde’s transition toward operations, together with its contribution through employment, skills development, local procurement and future export activity.

Minister of Mining Site Visit

On 23 September 2026, Lindian hosted the Honourable Minister of Mining, Thoko Tembo, at the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project, accompanied by a senior government delegation including the Secretary for Mining, senior Ministry of Mining officials, representatives of the Balaka District Council and traditional authorities.

The visit provided the delegation with a first-hand view of the significant progress being made at Kangankunde as the Project advances towards first production. The delegation toured the mining pit, ROM pad, TSF and other key areas of the Project before the Minister initiated Kangankunde’s 14th production blast, marking another milestone in the continued ramp-up of mining operations.

During the visit, the Minister met with members of Kangankunde’s Malawian workforce, including heavy-duty equipment operators, workshop personnel and the Project’s Drill and Blast Engineer, highlighting the growing technical and operational capability being developed locally.

Discussions with the Minister and government delegation focused on the development of Kangankunde, workforce and skills development, local procurement, community engagement and the Project’s long-term contribution to Malawi’s mining sector and broader economy.

Kangankunde is already delivering substantial local economic benefits as construction activity continues to scale. More than 85% of Lindian’s direct workforce is Malawian, while the wider site construction workforce now exceeds 3,000 personnel, the substantial majority of whom are Malawian nationals. As Kangankunde transitions from construction into operations, the expatriate workforce is expected to progressively reduce, supported by the continued development and transfer of skills to the local workforce. The Project continues to support skills development, local procurement of goods and services and community engagement initiatives as it progresses towards operations.

Project Execution and Commissioning Readiness

The nature of activity at Kangankunde is changing. The Project has moved through bulk earthworks and civil works into structural steel and platework erection, and is now progressively advancing through mechanical equipment installation, piping, electrical reticulation and instrumentation, with construction operating 24/7 across day and night shifts. As individual plant systems reach completion, they will be subject to pre commissioning checks, progressive energisation and commissioning, ahead of ore introduction and first production.

This sequence civils, structure, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation, system completion, commissioning, ore introduction, production is the pathway by which a processing plant becomes an operating asset, and Kangankunde is advancing along it across multiple parallel work fronts. With the pit opened up, approximately 125,000 tonnes of ore stockpiled ahead of schedule, TSF bulk earthworks complete and site energisation planned for October 2026, the critical enablers of commissioning are progressively being put in place ahead of Practical Completion in December 2026 and first concentrate production targeted by the end of 2026.

Mining Operations

Mining operations are well advanced at Kangankunde. The Stage 1 pit has been opened up, with 14 production blasts completed to date and drill-and-blast, ore haulage and ROM stockpiling continuing via the completed haul road. Grade control sampling is progressing to support ore definition and feed planning, and the owner operator mining fleet continues to perform strongly.

Approximately 125,000 tonnes of ore is now established on the ROM pad, ahead of schedule. Establishing substantial ore feedstock ahead of plant completion is a deliberate element of Lindian’s execution strategy: it removes mining from the commissioning critical path, ensures consistent feed is available for plant start-up, and supports a smoother ramp-up toward steady-state production and the transition into commercial operations.

Process Infrastructure

Construction of the Kangankunde process plant is progressing 24 hours a day across day and night shifts, with activity increasingly focused on structural completion, mechanical installation, piping, electrical and instrumentation works ahead of commissioning.

Civil works in the SAG mill area are advancing toward completion. Thickener installation is complete, with the tank erected and associated structural steel in place, while the product shed and filtration area installations continuing.

Across the gravity separation circuit, structural works in the shaking table, MGS, LMIS and WHIMS areas are well advanced, with mechanical equipment installation progressing. Piping, cable racking, electrical and instrumentation installation is progressing across completed plant areas, supporting the transition of individual systems toward completion and pre commissioning.

The increasing concentration of activity across mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation disciplines reflects Kangankunde’s progression from bulk construction into system completion, bringing the plant progressively closer to energisation, ore introduction and first production.

Tailings Storage Facility

Bulk earthworks for the TSF are complete, marking a major infrastructure milestone for the Project and removing a substantial construction scope from the pathway to commissioning. Remaining TSF works include completion of toe dam lining and piping and being coordinated with the broader process plant and supporting infrastructure programme.

Power Infrastructure

All major power infrastructure for the Project is now in place, building on the completion of the 33kV high voltage overhead powerline. Site transformer installation and site energisation are planned for October 2026. Site energisation is a critical commissioning dependency, enabling motor testing, control system commissioning and the progressive energisation of plant systems ahead of ore introduction.

Site Infrastructure

Site infrastructure continues to support the growing workforce. The Tipume Accommodation Camp is fully operational, with the Phase 2 camp expansion increasing camp capacity from 90 personnel to 130 personnel. The camp solar installation, administration precinct, medical clinic and site access infrastructure are also operational and supporting day to day project activities.

Leave a Comment

Comments