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Mkango's primary business is the exploration for rare earth elements and associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi. It holds, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lancaster, a 100% interest in two exclusive prospecting licenses covering a combined area of 1,751 km² in southern Malawi. The main exploration target is the Songwe Hill rare earth deposit, which features carbonatite hosted rare earth mineralisation and was subject to previous exploration in the late 1980s.
Mkango Resources receives the backing of Malawi’s minister of natural resources
Mkango Resources (CVE:MKA) received the endorsement of Malawi’s minister of natural resources, energy and the environment during an official visit to its Songwe Hill rare earth project in the Phalombe district of the country.
“It was interesting to see a private firm taking the initiative to invest in such a huge project in Malawi,” said Grain Malunga during the site tour.
“Exploration is a relatively expensive venture. It takes great commitment for a private investor to invest millions of dollars in an exploration project.
“As a government, we are thankful to Mkango Resources for their commitment to this project, which, when developed, has the potential to turn around the fortunes of the community in the surrounding villages and contribute enormously to the economy of the country.”
Throughout its time in Malawi, the group has enjoyed the co-operation and support of the local community.
It has also been active socially, supporting schools and creating and repairing water bore-holes.
Roads have also been refurbished and gravelled and a number of bridges re-built which link communities that would normally be cut off during Malawi’s extensive rainy season.
“Though the project has just started, Mkango has demonstrated that they have the desire to assist the community. We expect more benefits for the community as the project progresses,” said Malunga.
Songwe is the most advanced of Mkango’s two projects in the country and has an interesting history.
During the 1980s it was drilled by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA and the Metals and Mining Agency in Japan (MMAJ).
They actually got as far as establishing a historical estimate of 1.4 million tonnes at 1.74 per cent rare earths including lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, yttrium and europium, but didn’t assay for the full suite of rare earths. Furthermore, it was based on limited holes drilling only to 50 metres.
The work of JICA and MMAJ, although interesting, will be mostly be used as an exploration guide to direct Mkango’s first drilling campaign.
The company recently completed 2,000 metres of drilling, the first phase of this programme at Songwe Hill.
The drill holes tested a mineralised zone previously identified by the Japanese. Assay results are expected at some point in September.
