Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN) is seeking shareholders’ approval tomorrow to acquire 100% of Rift Valley Resource Developments Ltd, the Malawian company that owns the globally significant Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Malawi.
This follows a clear endorsement by the community of the company's proposed work plan for the project.
Early work programs including clearing of roads and drill pads leading to a drilling program this year will be expedited as soon as the approval is received.
Bags development directive
Earlier, Lindian’s chief executive officer Alistair Stephens secured a unilateral directive to advance Kangankunde’s development after conducting a site visit and completing a series of meetings with authorities in the district.
During the visit, he met with the Minister of Mines Dr Albert Mbawala and other mines department personnel, Balaka district development members, community chiefs and other stakeholders, all of whom have endorsed Kangankunde’s resource development, mining and processing operations plans.
The meetings discussed exploration programs that will lead to the development of a mining and processing operation, as well as the company’s commitment to environmental management and an overall community engagement plan including social and job opportunities.
Malawi government and local community representatives inspecting Kangankunde’s geology. Image credit – Malawi24.
Absolute delight
“The endorsement by the community for our works programs does not properly reflect the absolute delight and enthusiasm the community members expressed for our development plans,” Lindian chief executive officer Alistair Stephens said.
“In fact, they wished for us to get on with development quicker. And that is what we are now doing. No longer are we a visitor, we are now a community member.
"I look forward to providing a more detailed update on first works planned at site following the shareholder meeting this week.”
Work begins soon
Lindian is planning to drill as many holes as possible before the wet season begins in December 2022 through to about March 2023, when on-site activities will recommence. It plans to collect bulk samples to commence metallurgical test work.
During the wet season, it will focus on a number of other project development and corporate initiatives that do not require site access.
About Kangankunde
Kangankunde is about 100 kilometres north of Blantyre within the Machinga district of Southern Malawi.
The deposit has a historic inferred resource of mineralisation, which is exposed at the surface and open at depth.
Historic metallurgical test-work has demonstrated the mineralisation is amenable to low-cost gravity separation to produce a high-grade concentrate.
The deposit contains a central zone of carbonatite rocks passing outwards to a series of broadly concentric zones of altered agglomerate, altered host rock and ultimately into unaltered gneiss host rock.