Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF) has appointed Mojalefa Sechemane as Processing Manager, adding further depth to its technical leadership team as construction, commissioning and operational readiness activities progress at the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Malawi.
Sechemane brings more than 20 years of hydrometallurgical and mineral processing experience across uranium, gold, zinc, copper, cobalt and PGM operations in Africa. His background includes commissioning complex processing plants, optimising circuits, leading metallurgical testwork programs, improving recoveries and establishing mine-to-metal accounting systems. Most recently, as Processing Manager at IRH Mopani Copper Mines, he was responsible for feasibility study work, pilot plant programs and optimisation of copper flotation circuits.
At ERG Metalkol, he held senior roles where he commissioned solvent extraction and electrowinning circuits, implemented mine-to-metal accounting and routine metallurgical laboratories, and led zinc solvent extraction and cadmium ion-exchange projects.
In his new role at Lindian, Sechemane will lead the processing function at Kangankunde, providing on-site metallurgical and processing leadership through commissioning, ramp-up and into steady-state production. He will work closely with the design-and-construct contractor to finalise processing plant design, ensure operational requirements are incorporated, and implement the systems required for commissioning and ongoing operations.
“Mojalefa has a proven record of making complex processing plants perform, with a clear focus on delivering a reliable, high-throughput circuit that generates strong cash flow,” Lindian executive director, Zac Komur, said.
“His experience across African operations is exactly what we need as Kangankunde moves from construction into production. With his appointment, our operational management team for Kangankunde is now complete and fully focused on first production. We expect to award the design-and-construct contract before the end of the year, with Mojalefa playing a central role in turning that design into a durable, long-life operation.”
Downstream milestone
The appointment comes as Lindian marked another step forward in its downstream program, with new test work by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) confirming that monazite concentrate from the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Malawi cracks cleanly using conventional processing to produce a high-grade, ultra-low-radiation mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC).
Read more: Lindian test work confirms Kangankunde monazite delivers high-grade, ultra-low-radiation MREC
The results demonstrate a simple, scalable flowsheet that achieves high recoveries of key magnet rare earths, particularly neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr), and reinforce Kangankunde’s potential as a premium feedstock source for downstream processors seeking specification-ready material without the added cost and complexity of managing radioactive materials.
