Mkango Resources Ltd (LON:MKA)(CVE:MKA) completed its flotation pilot plant programme for the Songwe Hill rare earths project in Malawi.
The programme was completed at ALS Metallurgy in Perth, Australia, and was effective in scaling up a new, optimised flotation regime for the project.
The results of the flotation pilot programme will be announced in due course, and the flotation concentrate produced will then be subjected to hydrometallurgical piloting.
Meanwhile, rare earth prices continue to rise and concerns over security of supply are providing a very favourable market backdrop, with accelerating demand geared to growth in electric vehicles, wind power and green technology applications.
"We are very pleased to have completed this major milestone for the project and look forward to updating the market when the results are available,” said Mkango chief executive William Dawes.
“The smooth commissioning of the flotation pilot plant is a strong credit to the ALS Metallurgy team, as well as Mkango's technical consultants and advisors. The flotation pilot plant provides Mkango's lead engineers, SENET, with essential operating data for the feasibility study and to assist in engineering the Company's commercial scale operation."
Mkango's corporate strategy is to develop new sustainable primary and secondary sources of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium to supply accelerating demand from electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean technologies. This integrated 'mine, refine, recycle' strategy differentiates Mkango from its peers, uniquely positioning the Company in the rare earths sector.