Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF) continues to advance its planned development of the world-class Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Malawi, securing a US$50 million funding and offtake package to support initial development.
The company has executed a non-binding term sheet with Gerald Group — one of the world's largest independent and employee-owned metals trading houses — that proposes the provision of a US$50 million Stage 1 funding and offtake package to assist with the development of the Kangankunde Project.
“We are pleased that a globally recognised metals trading group, Gerald Metals, is working with Lindian towards accelerating the development of the world-class Kangankunde Rare Earths Project,” Lindian CEO Alwyn Vorster said.
A July 2024 feasibility study on the project’s Stage 1 development delivered outstanding technical and economic results, including that Kangankunde has one of the lowest capital and operating cost structures of global rare earths projects.
Read more: Lindian Resources Kangankunde feasibility study confirms very low-cost project with 45-year mine life
The Gerald funding package
The Gerald funding package will fund costs associated with the Phase 1 project development and assist with operational expenditure associated with creating the initial run-of-mine stockpile.
The feasibility study estimated pre-production capital costs of about US$40 million (A$60 million) including a 12.5% contingency, making for one of the lowest capital cost rare earths projects under development.
Vorster added, “The proposed funding facility and offtake agreement for monazite concentrate will be key enablers to advance Kangankunde’s construction activities in the first half of 2025. We look forward to working with Gerald to expedite the finalisation of the binding arrangements as quickly as possible.”
The non-binding term sheet would see Gerald provide funding through a combination of equity and convertible instruments, along with various prepayments type loan facilities intended to be partially repaid through the supply of monazite concentrate to be produced from the project pursuant to an offtake agreement.
It is contemplated that Gerald would be granted full offtake rights for monazite concentrate from Phase 1 of the project, plus partial offtake rights over production from Phase 2.
Upon the first tranche of funding becoming effective, it is envisaged that Gerald will have the right to nominate directors to the boards of Lindian’s Malawi subsidiaries and on the board of Lindian.
Established in 1962 in the United States and now headquartered in London UK, Gerald Group focuses on the physical merchanting, development, trade, and structured financing of metals and related commodities.
The group generates around US$10 billion in gross revenues and operates globally, specialising in metals such as aluminium, copper, iron ore, precious metals, tin, and cobalt. The metals trading house offers a comprehensive service model that spans the entire commodity value chain, including sourcing, marketing, logistics, storage, hedging, risk management, and structured finance solutions.
Lindian continues to progress negotiations on the binding terms of the proposed financing and offtake arrangements with Gerald, in parallel with the completion of Gerald’s due diligence process.