As the new administration has completed its first 100 days in office, stakeholders in the minerals sector have acknowledged early positive policy signals in the sector while questioning the absence of concrete reforms, particularly in governance, community protection and Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASMs).

Civil Society Organasations working in the sector say the administration has taken a cautious approach, marked more by continuity than decisive reform.

National Coordinator for Natural Resources Jusctice Network (NRJN) Kennedy Rashid, said the government’s performance during the period has been moderate, with limited tangible outcomes.

“The government’s performance during the first 100 days has been moderate but largely cautious. While public messaging has highlighted the importance of mining to economic recovery, tangible outcomes remain limited,” Rashid said.

He said positive signals such as the directive on value addition to minerals have yet to translate into visible actions that improve mining governance, accountability or community outcomes.

Rashid observed that few structural changes have been implemented to restore public confidence, particularly in addressing unlicensed and unregulated ASM activities that continue to affect communities.

He explained that early government statements on investor confidence and the ban on raw mineral exports suggest intent, but deeper reforms remain absent. He cited limited progress on beneficiation frameworks, fair taxation, public disclosure of mining contracts, beneficial ownership transparency and systematic publication of mineral revenue data.

“We have not seen decisive reforms on contract transparency or public disclosure of mining agreements, despite the existence of annual EITI reports,” Rashid said.

He said oversight institutions such as the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) and the Malawi Mining and Mineral Resources Regulatory Authority (MMRA) continue to operate with limited public information-sharing, noting that transparency requires enforceable systems rather than declarations.

For mining-affected communities, Rashid said daily realities remain unchanged, with continued land displacement, environmental degradation, inadequate compensation and weak consultation processes, especially in areas impacted by informal ASM activities.

“There has been no clear improvement in grievance redress mechanisms or community participation, leaving communities excluded from decision-making and disconnected from the promised benefits of mineral extraction,” he said.

Rashid described the absence of a clear reform roadmap within the first 100 days as a missed opportunity saying the government could have outlined timelines for beneficiation, green minerals development, contract review and stronger environmental enforcement.

He called for the immediate publication of mining contracts, licences and revenues, increased state investment through Malawi Mining Investment Company (MAMICO), protection of community rights and the development of a national green minerals’ strategy.

Concerns are more pronounced among ASMs who say recent policy decisions have worsened conditions in the subsector.

Percy Maleta, President of the Federation of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Malawi (FASMIM), said the ban on the export of raw minerals has had a direct and negative impact on ASM operations, which depend heavily on export markets.

“While we welcome the consultations now taking place around export regulations, these should have come before imposing a ban, not after,” Maleta said.

He said access to licences has deteriorated following the suspension of ASM licence issuance and renewal without clear communication. Maleta added that markets remain constrained, noting that the Export Development Fund focuses mainly on gold and top-grade gemstones, leaving the bulk of ASM production without a structured market.

“The ASM subsector is currently in a worse position than at any other time in the history of gemstone mining and trading in Malawi,” he said.

FASMIM has called for the urgent lifting of the export ban, decentralisation of ASM licensing, technical and equipment support through MAMICO, improved gold purchasing mechanisms and a more human-centred approach to mining policy.

From a development and private-sector perspective, ActionAid Malawi says the government has shown goodwill, but policy gaps remain.

In an interview, Project Officer for the Climate Just Transition for Mining-Affected Communities Project at ActionAid Malawi, Charles Finis Phiri, said the government has taken steps to strengthen the legal, regulatory and institutional framework of the mining sector.

“The government has empowered the Ministry of Mining and strengthened the Mining and Mineral Resources Regulatory Authority, which is likely to inspire investor confidence,” Phiri said.

However, he said early actions have created both opportunities and uncertainties, particularly for artisanal miners affected by the raw mineral export ban, while beneficiation and formalisation efforts remain slow.

Phiri said processing minerals locally could maximise revenue, foster industrialisation, create jobs and support the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund. He added that coordination gaps persist, especially around community participation, calling for amendments to extend Community Development Agreements to medium-scale operations and strengthen the role of local councils and traditional leaders.

He said the mining sector has the potential to increase its contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) beyond one percent if supported by investment in beneficiation, institutional capacity building, transparency in licensing and revenue management, local participation and infrastructure development.

From a youth and academic perspective, some progress has been acknowledged, particularly in stakeholder engagement and skills development.

Ezala Banda, a mining student at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) and a member of the Future Miners Network, said government-led sensitisation meetings involving senior officials have helped improve understanding of mining laws, safety and sustainability among community leaders and local stakeholders.

“These engagements help communities and youths understand how mining should be done legally and safely,” Banda said.

He said the government’s emphasis on value addition positions mining as a pillar of the Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) strategy, with potential to create jobs and boost national revenue. However, he noted that youth inclusion remains limited, with few practical entry points beyond formal education, and that internships and employment opportunities remain scarce.

Globally, mining remains a capital-intensive sector whose developmental impact depends on strong institutions, effective regulation, value addition and inclusive benefit-sharing. Countries that align mineral extraction with industrial policy, skills development and community participation tend to achieve broader economic gains, while weak governance often limits the sector’s contribution to sustainable growth.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it is reviewing reports on suspicious correspondence between former Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) Director General Samuel Sakhuta and Rift Valley Resources Developments operating as Lindian Resources.

“The Bureau has received a complaint and will treat it with the urgency it deserves,” says ACB Director Gabriel Chembezi.

Mining & Trade Review has sourced conflicting letters from MMRA regarding exportation of monazite concentrate from Kangankunde mine. A letter from MMRA to Rift Valley dated October 28, 2025 signed by former Director General Samuel Sakhuta, copied to Chief Secretary in the Office of President and Cabinet and Secretary for Mining is headlined “CLARIFICATION NOTE INDICATING THAT RIFT VALLEY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED IS NOT BARRED FROM EXPORTING RARE EARTH AFTER PROCESSING, BENEFICIATION AND VALUE ADDITION AT KANGANKUNDE MINE IN BALAKA IN THE WAKE OF PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2 OF 2025 ISSUED ON 23 RD OCTOBER 2025. “

“By definition when the Mineral ore reaches the level of producing individual rare earth Oxides, it means it has been processed, beneficiated and value addition has taken place. The Authority therefore would like to affirm that your company, Rift Valley Resources Development Limited will not be affected by the Executive Order since your submission clearly shows that you will do value addition to the Monazite Ore right here in Malawi before exporting the product to the market,” reads the letter.

But Lindian published an edited version of the letter in its ASX-release dated October 29, 2025 claiming that Malawi Government had authorized exportation of the monazite concentrate.

Reads the letter with a similar headline and date, and signed by Sakhuta published as part of Lindian’s ASX release: “The Authority therefore would like to affirm that your company, Rift Valley Resources Development Limited will not be affected by the Executive Order since your submissions show that you will do value addition to the Monazite Ore by producing a monazite concentrate through primary beneficiation right here in Malawi before exporting the concentrate to outside markets.”

The stages of processing monazite to rare earth oxides include:

1. Ore Beneficiation: The monazite ore is crushed, ground, and physically beneficiated to remove impurities.
2. Chemical Beneficiation: The ore undergoes chemical treatment to extract valuable minerals.
3. Crystallization: The beneficiated ore is crystallized to produce monazite concentrate.
4. Monazite Concentrate to Mixed Rare Earth Concentrate: The monazite concentrate is further processed to produce mixed rare earth carbonate and thorium.
5. Separation of Mixed Rare Earth Concentrate: A separation plant is used to produce mixed RE oxides.
6. Production of Individual Rare Earth Oxides: The final stage involves the production of individual rare earth oxides based on the desired product.This process is crucial for the production of rare earth elements, which are essential for various applications, including electronics, energy storage, and renewable energy technologies. 

 Lindian, which is scheduled to start commercial mining at Kangankunde in November this year will process the Kangankunde ore locally to Stage 3, which is crystallization to produce monazite concentrate contrary to the mining licence demands and requirements of the Presidential ban on raw mineral exports to process to the final stage which is the production of rare earth oxides as explained by the MMRA in the clarification letter.

The Company has been exporting monazite concentrate to its mixed rare earth concentrate facility in Kazakhstan for tests in readiness for commercial production.

Sakhuta states in the original letter from MMRA: “The Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority received three different documents in which you include an issue of processing of Monazite Ore.”

“Firstly, your company submitted an application for a mining licence in 2022 in which you included a description that your company will process Monazite Ore into individual rare earth products, such as oxides, thorium or uranium concentrates.”

“Secondly under section 2.4 of the ESIA (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment) Report that your company submitted to Malawi Environmental Protection Authority, there is a mention that the processing of the Monazite Ore shall be up to the level of producing individual Oxides.”

“Thirdly the request that your company made to Malawi Revenue Authority, provides the list of equipment that the company would like to import for the purpose of processing, beneficiating and value addition of the Monazite up to oxides.”

Sakhuta states that the Executive Order is a fundamental national policy instrument for economic diversification and maximization of in country value retention.

But Government is also currently formulating regulations of the raw mineral export ban that contains thresholds for processing of all minerals before export, which also stand as a stumbling block

The Aussie firm purchased mineral rights for Kangankunde, a globally significant rare earth deposit and one of the world’s largest untapped rare earth deposits at US$30-million from locally owned Rift Valley Resource Developments.

Lindian is using Rift Valley’s medium scale mining licence, which has sparked an outcry from members of the Malawi public who want the company to acquire a large-scale mining licence to ensure increased benefits from the project to the impoverished country.

A holder of a medium scale mining licence is not legally required to sign a mining development agreement with government that includes free equity to government as a minority shareholder and a community development agreement as is the case with a large scale licence.

Can Malawi Turn Global Energy Transition Demand into National Development?  

Series: Malawi’s Critical Minerals Moment

By now, you may have heard the phrase critical minerals—often mentioned alongside electric vehicles, renewable energy, and growing geopolitical tension. But what exactly makes a mineral “critical,” and to whom? Why are major global economic powers such as the United States and China scrambling to secure their mineral supplies? And what does all this mean for Malawi, a country whose geology is increasingly attracting international attention?

Despite the confident way the term is used, “critical minerals” are not a formal scientific mineral category. They are defined politically and economically. A mineral is considered critical when it is essential for use in modern renewable technologies but are vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. Different countries publish different lists, depending on their industrial priorities and national security concerns. However, most include minerals required for renewable energy systems, advanced electronics, and defence industries, among them being rare earth elements, graphite, lithium, cobalt, uranium, titanium (including rutile), tantalum, and platinum group metals.

Their importance becomes clearer when we consider where they are used. Lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, and manganese power electric vehicles, smartphones, and large-scale renewable energy storage systems. Rare earth elements are indispensable for highperformance permanent magnets used in wind turbines and electric vehicle motors. Copper and aluminum underpin power grids, transmission lines, and electrification systems. Uranium is regaining prominence as countries reconsider nuclear energy as a low-carbon baseload power source for climate change mitigation. In short, these minerals form the material foundation of the technologies shaping the 21st century and decarbonization initiatives. Without them, the global push toward decarbonization, digital connectivity, and advanced manufacturing would stall.

This growing dependence has transformed minerals into a geopolitical issue. For decades, global resource geopolitics revolved around oil. Today, competition increasingly centers on critical mineral supply chains, from extraction to processing and manufacturing of high-tech digitalization. The challenge lies in their geographies. Many critical minerals are mined in developing countries in the Global South, while refining, processing and even consumption are spatially concentrated in the Global North. Rare earth processing, for example, is heavily dominated by China, even though deposits are distributed globally. Such concentration creates supply “chokepoints,” where economic disruptions, export controls, or diplomatic tensions can have worldwide consequences.

As a result, critical minerals are now framed as national security priorities to minimize changes of weaponization by the dominating countries. To this effect, governments are funding mining projects abroad, signing long-term offtake agreements, fast-tracking “strategic” projects, and forming diplomatic alliances centered on mineral access including on shoring strategies. What was once a commercial commodity discussion has become a strategic race.

Against this backdrop, Malawi has emerged as a country of growing importance. Several projects are drawing international attention. Songwe Hill in Phalombe, developed by Mkango Resources, is one of Malawi’s most advanced rare earth projects. Rare earths are crucial for magnets used in wind turbines and electric vehicle motors, linking the project directly to global renewable energy supply chains. In Balaka district, Kangankunde, developed by Lindian Resources, is widely described as a globally significant rare earth deposit. On the Lilongwe Plain, the Kasiya project combines rutile, a high-grade titanium mineral used in aerospace and pigments, with graphite, a key battery material. Meanwhile, in Karonga, the Kayelekera uranium mine has been reopened after more than a decade of inactivity, placing Malawi back into the global uranium market at a time when nuclear energy is being reassessed worldwide.

These projects signal that Malawi is no longer on the margins of global mineral conversations. Yet the classification of these resources as “critical” is not neutral. What is critical for one country may not be critical for another. The designation often reflects industrial strategy and geopolitical interests rather than geological scarcity alone. By labeling a mineral “critical,” governments elevate it to strategic importance, justifying accelerated investment, policy support, and diplomatic engagement. However, producing countries frequently bear the environmental and social costs associated with extraction. This raises important questions. Who defines what is critical? For whose benefit? And at what cost? Local communities in producing regions may not necessarily view these minerals as “critical,” particularly if mining operations disrupt land, water, or livelihoods. While global industries depend on these resources, the burdens of extraction are often localized. If not carefully governed, the rush for energy transition minerals can replicate familiar patterns of inequality and green capitalism.

There is also the complexity of dual use. Many minerals powering renewable technologies also support defence systems. Lithium batteries power electric vehicles, but they also power warfare unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced communications systems. Rare earth elements are essential in wind turbines and in missile guidance systems. This overlap between civilian green technologies and military applications adds another layer of geopolitical significance and raises deeper questions about the nature of the energy transition.

For Malawi, the central question is not simply whether these minerals are critical globally, but whether they can become transformative nationally. Minerals are finite resources. Once extracted, they are depleted. The economic development opportunity presented by this global demand is real, but it is not automatic. Resource-rich countries have historically faced the risk of the so-called “resource curse,” where mineral wealth fails to translate into broadbased development.

To avoid this outcome, Malawi must focus on strategic governance. Mining agreements should prioritize transparent revenue systems, stable fiscal terms, local procurement, skills development, and enforceable community benefit mechanisms. The goal should be predictable public income and economic multipliers that extend beyond the lifetime of a mine. Where feasible, value addition should be encouraged, whether through mineral upgrading, beneficiation, or partnerships that support domestic processing capacity. While not all minerals can be fully processed locally in the short term, incremental steps can increase value retention.  

Institutional strength and capacity will be equally important. Clear licensing systems, credible environmental oversight, contract transparency, and empowered regulatory bodies can build both investor confidence, public trust and ultimately social license to operate. Investors seek clarity and efficiency; citizens demand accountability and safeguards. Effective mineral governance can reconcile these two seemly conflicting interests.

Mining revenues, if managed prudently, can also finance long-term development priorities. Investments in reliable electricity, transport infrastructure, technical education, and industrial diversification can ensure that mineral wealth supports economic resilience long after extraction ends. Increasingly, global buyers are under pressure to demonstrate responsible mineral sourcing to contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals This presents Malawi with an opportunity to position itself as a jurisdiction that emphasizes environmental protection, water stewardship, community participation, and transparent governance, thus, turning responsible mining into a competitive advantage rather than a constraint.

Ultimately, Malawi may benefit from defining its own critical minerals strategy. The one grounded not only in global demand but in national development objectives and priorities. Rather than responding passively to external classification systems, the country can articulate what minerals are strategically important for its own economic transformation and how extraction aligns with long-term sustainability.

Critical minerals are reshaping the global economy, and Malawi possesses geological assets that the world increasingly wants. From rare earths to rutile, graphite, and uranium, the country stands significantly at a competitive advantage. The question is no longer whether Malawi can attract mining investment, it already has. The deeper question is whether it can convert this global rush into inclusive, sustainable national development. With strategic negotiation, strong institutions, value addition, and community-centered governance, Malawi’s critical minerals moment could become more than a mining boom. It could become the foundation for long-term economic transformation. 

Stakeholders acting in the extractives sector has tipped the Malawi Government through the Ministry of Mining on some of the incentives to reduce corrupt practices in the mineral sector.

Commenting during a panel discussion on Zodiak Television, Human Rights Advocate for Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Loveness Thole said the government has all it is needed to fight corruption in the extractives sector and what is needed is the enforcement of the laws.

Thole said for the Government to ensure that corrupt practices within the sector has been reduced, they require to enforce containments of the new Mines and Minerals Act of 2023.

“Government should just enforce what is in the laws. Our laws contain almost everything including manning any corrupt practices.”

“What was lacking in the old act was enforcement and I believe if the ministry can enforce what is the new law, no any corruption can happen within the sector,” said Thole.

In his remarks, Consulting Geoscientist, Igneous Kamwanje urged for unity within the sector in order to put to an end corruption in the sector.

Kamwanje further appealed to Malawi Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative (MWEITI) to perform its duties including implementing some of the recommendations written in annual reports.

“We need to have unity of direction. Would love the MWEITI to be performing its duties. Almost every year they produce reports and what is written in their reports every year it does not work on the ground.”

“The non-state actors like them, they bring in checks and balances in terms normalization and bringing in standards in enforcement of the laws. For the corruption to end the people needs to be united and there is a need for disclosure of information.”

“Because when the information is disclosed to the public we both move in one direction and everyone know where we are going.”

“Despite that mining is at infant stage but there is a lot that is going on in terms of institutions which is overlaps in some of its mandates creating a room for corruption,” said Kamwanje.

The panel discussion was organized in line with Empowering Stakeholders Driving Just Resources Governance through open Contracting and Licensing Project being championed by Perekezi Consultancy under empowering Just Energy Transition (JET) minerals challenge with funding from USAID.

In a separate interview, Representative for Perekezi Consultancy Chikomeni Manda advised the government to be transparent in some of the processes conducted within the sector to ensure no deal is suspicious to the general public.

Manda also tipped the ministry to ensure speed process of contracts and licenses saying delays for finalize the documents influences the investors to indulge in corruption to meet the deadline.

He said: “The government should ensure transparency in how they handle licensing issues to build public trust and confidence.

“It is also very important to reduce the long waiting time for licenses as the more it delays, the investor resort to corrupt practices with the aim of speeding the process,” he said.

Meanwhile, a number of Mining Development Agreements (MDAs) are still in pipeline awaiting final approval by the ministry of mining.

By Modester Mwalija         

ASX- listed Sovereign Metals, which is prospecting for rutile and graphite in Kasiya area in Lilongwe, says results of graphite test work conducted across multiple independent laboratories in Australia, Canada and South Africa have delivered superior quality, low impurity graphite for battery anodes.

Sovereign Metals MD Frank Eagar says in a statement that the graphite circuit feed prepared at Sovereign’s existing Lilongwe laboratory facility has produced high quality concentrates in benchtop and pilot-scale flotation and cleaning.

Four independent laboratories all successfully produced high-grade graphite concentrate averaging over 97% Total Graphite Content (TGC) with flotation recoveries exceeding 90%.

Eager explains that the graphite concentrates indicate exceptionally low levels of sulphur compared to typical hard-rock graphite peers – a key metric to qualify as active anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

He says the test-work demonstrated excellent results using a conventional flowsheet that was consistent across all laboratories, thus confirming Sovereign’s ability to produce a high-quality graphite concentrate.

Eagar says: “Our ability to upgrade Kasiya ore at 1.4% graphite to a 55% rougher concentrate without any crushing or milling, highlights more of the unique qualities of Kasiya. There are very limited other graphite projects with these characteristics.”

“The pilot-scale results also confirm that Kasiya produces high-grade concentrates with very low sulphur levels at high recoveries. Simply put, Kasiya will be a stand out producer of high-quality graphite concentrate at industry low operating costs.”

The tests successfully generated high-grade graphite concentrate of 94.9% to 97.8% Total Graphite Content (TGC) while achieving high flotation recoveries of 91.2% to 97.2%.

He says the graphite feed grades of 3.5%-4.0% TGC to the graphite circuit are significantly higher than the Mineral Resource Grade of 1.44%, highlighting the ~2.4 to 2.8 fold upgrading of graphite grades when Run of Mine (ROM) ore passes through the front-end rutile gravity separation circuit.

“This percentages demonstrates the ease of separating the rutile heavy mineral and graphite streams from the front end of the Kasiya Pre-feasibility Study process flow sheet and highlights the commercial benefits of having both rutile and graphite mineralisation co-existent in the same soft saprolite-hosted orebody,” says Eager.

He explains that the Kasiya material has exceptionally low levels of all of impurities iron, sulphur, silicon and aluminium compared to the Chinese Standard, which will potentially lead to significant commercial advantages during purification boosting Kasiya’s potential as a long term secure source of graphite.

Meanwhile, Kasiya concentrate has been sent for downstream test work at a globally respected graphite consultancy ProGraphite to produce and characterise Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG) active anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Eagar says ProGraphite is conducting shaping, purification, and coating test work to produce CSPG and evaluate the electrochemical performance of Kasiya CSPG.

“This will provide baseline data for further optimisation and engagement with off-takers. Initial outcomes of this test work are expected to be released in the coming weeks,” says Eagar.

China dominates the supply of graphite for battery anodes.

Kasiya is the world’s largest rutile deposit and one of the largest graphite deposits.

By Modester Mwalija

ASX-listed Sovereign Metals says it has initiated a follow-up 400 metre spaced drill program at its tier one Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Lilongwe.

Sovereign metals MD Frank Eagar says in a statement that the program will focus on determining the boundaries and extent of mineralisation north of the known Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) area.

 “The 70+ hole hand-auger drill program has been designed to target areas where mineralisation was identified in earlier wide-spaced regional hand-auger drilling. The target area is up to 20km north of the current MRE boundary,” Eager states.

Eagar says that the drilling, currently underway, will be completed in the coming weeks and to ensure smooth operations, four hand-auger teams have been deployed under the supervision of Sovereign’s in-country technical team.

For sample analysis, Eagar states that samples will be initially processed in the Company’s Lilongwe laboratory facility and then shipped for final analysis at certified international laboratories.

“Results from the drill program are expected in the coming weeks,” he says.

Earlier this year, the Company released an announcement regarding the results of regional hand-auger drilling conducted south of the Kasiya MRE footprint. The results revealed significant strike extensions of approximately 8km across multiple parallel mineralised zones ranging from 400m to 2km in width.

Eager clarifies that all the newly defined mineralization in the south remains open at depth and represents the potential to expand the already significant high-grade Rutile and Graphite Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at Kasiya.

“All newly defined mineralisation in the south remains open at depth due to the limitations of the hand-auger drilling method but are expected to continue to the saprock boundary normally between 20 and 30 vertical metres from surface”, says Eager.

In September 2023, Sovereign released a Pre-Feasibility Study confirming that Kasiya has the potential to emerge as one of the world’s largest and lowest-cost producers of natural rutile and natural graphite, with a remarkably lower carbon footprint compared to current alternatives.

The findings of the Pre-feasibility study also confirmed Kasiya as a major critical minerals project, possessing a substantial low carbon footprint while delivering major volumes of natural rutile and graphite and generating significant economic returns.

The proposed large-scale operation in Kasiya aims to process soft, friable mineralisation mined from surface with its valuable location boasting excellent infrastructure, including bitumen roads, a high quality rail line connecting to the deep-water port of Nacala and access to hydro-sourced grid power.

Natural rutile is a genuinely scarce commodity, with no other known large rutile dominant deposits being discovered in over half a century. Kasiya is now shown to be the largest single rutile deposit in the world, with central Malawi now hosting the largest known rutile province in the world.

Rumphi based Mchenga Coal Mine (MCM) says it is working on increasing its production capacity from the current 1,200 metric tons per month to 4,500 metric tons.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the Malawi Mining Investment Forum in Lilongwe, MCM Acting Mine Manager Assan Tembo said in order to meet the production target, the company plans to open new mining sites within the license areas which will be operating concurrently with the old mining sites.

Tembo said the company is also working on repairing machinery which stopped working resulting in low production.

 “Recently we were facing challenges due to very heavy rainfall which resulted in high water levels in the mines but we are now ready to resume production, and anytime soon maybe in the next two months our production will go up to 4500 per month after opening the new mines,” he said.

Tembo assured customers that Mchenga will continue providing coal of good quality despite increasing production.

 “If you remember, since we started mining, people have been saying Mchenga coal is of the best quality. It is the same coal we are mining. We promise to maintain the same quality of coal after opening the new mine. It is good quality coal, and industries like cement production, which needs quality coal, will like our coal,” said Tembo.  

Mchenga’s labour force currently comprises 285 employees, and they provide workers and their families amenities which include a clinic, a primary school, kindergarten, a subsidized shop, sporting facilities, electricity, a club with Digital Satellite Television, a maize mill and portable water.

The Company also provides industrial attachments to various students from technical colleges and universities in Malawi including interns from Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Malawi University of Business and Applied Science (MUBAS) and University of Malawi – the Polytechnic.

Mchenga produces sub-bituminous coal of high calorific value of 5800-7400kcal/kg and low ash content of around 14-24% and its major customers include Limbe Leaf, Cement Products, Kanengo Tobacco Processors, CP Feeds Group, Castel Malawi, Alliance One, East Metals and Miscor.

The mine is located in Livingstonia Coalfield, which hosts a number of coal mines including Chombe, Jalawe and Kaziwiziwi.

A cross section of members of the Civil Society working in the extractive sector and the media now have the knowledge of how they can follow-up and help in curbing transnational corruption in green minerals thanks to the training workshop that was conducted by Perekezi ASM Consultants and Events in Lilongwe with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Perekezi organized the workshop in light of the increase in demand for the minerals which are important in the modern technological world.

The training came at an opportune time as Malawi has made a number of discoveries of green minerals including rare earths.

Under the Driving Just Resources Governance through open contracting and licensing project, Perekezi ASM Consultants and Events with funding from USAID is implementing the Powering a Just Energy Transition Minerals Challenge (JET Minerals change) project to promote transparency and accountability with the aim of curbing transnational corruption in green minerals.

Managing Partner for Perekezi Chikomeni Manda said though currently there is no corruption cases in Malawi as regards to green minerals they feel the high demand for the mineral can trigger corruption.

Manda said involvement of the CSO and media in the training is to ensure that they understand the significance of the green minerals and whenever the corruption case arises, they have to recognize it.  

He said: “We are looking at these green minerals because they are getting a lot of attention from the world technologies; defense and many other applications.”

“Since these minerals are in high demand, they can bring a lot of corruption in the system. We, therefore, conducted this training to civil society and the media to ensure that they know the significance of these minerals.”

Manda said corruption practices in extractives sector negatively impact the economy of any country as it retards development.

He said: “If these minerals are well managed with ample revenues generated, Malawi we can see a very big change in terms of development.”

“As Perekezi we understand that civil society and media’s oversight role on corruption issues,” he said.

Meanwhile, the study that Perekezi conducted has established that the country’s extractive sector is being challenged by delays in both licensing processing and finalization of Mining Development Agreements (MDAs).

“From the study that we conducted we have seen that licensing process is something that takes a very long time while right now we have MDAs among us which the government has been negotiating for quiet long and we do not see any hope that they will been finalized anytime soon.”

“These delays can be recipe for corruption because investors want to start working. And can think of going through a back door to influence authorities,” said Manda.

In his presentation, Technical Expert and Manager for Malawi Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (MWEITI) Leornard Mushane said there is more MWEITI is doing to support the anti-corruption drive which requires media support.

Mushane explained that the MWEITI secretariat requires support from the media in areas including dissemination of EITI reports whose main purpose is to disclose Information for all stakeholders to use.

He also disclosed that MWEITI has developed MWEITI Anti-Corruption Strategy as one way of fighting corruption practices in the extractives sector.

Mushane said the development of the strategy was prompted by the last corruption case that happened in the sector over license renewal for Ilomba Granite Mine in Mzimba district.

“MWEITI Anti-Corruption Strategy is the tool that we have developed through the support of the European Union sunder Chuma Cha Dziko project. The tool simply provides guidance on what to do to fight corruption in the mining sector,” he said.

The presenters at the workshop included Head of Mineral Rights Division, Mphatso Chikoti from the Department of Mines who was invited to tackle issues of Legal and Regulatory framework governing the extractives sector.

The Malawi Government has signed a charter securing membership in the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) as one way of facilitating international cooperation in the minerals and mining sector among member African nations.

AMSG is an African body which promotes exploration, extraction, production, local beneficiation (value addition) and commercialization to ensure a sustainable, transparent and secure supply of critical minerals, while protecting the environment and improving the quality of life of the population, to spur the socio-economic transformation and prosperity of Africa, and support the energy transition.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lilongwe, Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno commended the move saying it will spearhead the mission to safeguard African minerals including Malawi’s.

Chang’anamuno said the development will, among others, help in job creation and in local beneficiation as raw materials will be processed within Africa. 

She said: “We have today signed this charter to officially become members of the group in order to safeguard minerals of Africa.”

“For long time, we have been doing this as individual countries so others have taken advantage of that but this time, we have said no let us come together.”

“This will also help to create jobs for ourselves unlike in the past where people were taking our raw materials to utilize in creating job opportunities in their countries.”

“For instance, if we have a refinery for specific minerals in Malawi, other countries will be able to use that refinery. Likewise, Malawi will also be using refineries for other minerals that cannot be refined here in another African country, maybe in Tanzania.”

Malawi has joined the bandwagon of 16 AMSG founding member nations including Nigeria, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Botswana, Burundi, South Sudan, Zambia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Chad, Somalia, Zimbabwe and Liberia.

In his remarks, Secretary General for AMSG Moses Micheal Engadu hailed the move by Malawi Government saying it has joined at an opportune time when the country has started developing its mineral sector.

Engadu said the country has vast unexploited key minerals that the Group is interested to protect and ensure that they benefit and improve African communities. 

He said: “What we signed today was a charter for the establishment of Africa Minerals Strategy Group. This is the intergovernmental coding established to facilitate international cooperation in the minerals and mining sector among African countries and also work with interested nations and strategic partners to explore opportunities to grow our mining sector.

“Our role is to promote local beneficiation and also to get fair deals for Africa for minerals. As you know we have vast mineral wealth across the continent but for the past years we have not benefited from these minerals as continent.”

“So our duty is to become a voice for the African continent and be able to negotiate better deals and also foster collaboration among our countries as some countries have experiences in mining and we want to bring those experiences to countries like Malawi which is just starting mining.”

Endagu further explained that currently, there is scramble for minerals used to produce electromagnets and Malawi has a number of those minerals yet to be exploited hence the need to join hands.

AMSG objectives centers on collaboration, resource sharing, investment opportunities, technological advancement, capacity building and, strategic partnership.  

In January this year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia became AMSG founding partner promising to invest in the African mineral assets through their newly launched $15-billion Manara Minerals Fund which is targeting four commodities namely copper, lithium, iron ore and nickel.