Successfully Completes Flotation Pilot Plant Programme For Rare Earths Project
Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM/TSXV:MKA) has revealed that the flotation pilot plant programme for the Songwe Hill Rare Earths project in Malawi has been successfully completed.
Perth, Australia-based ALS Metallurgy completed the programme which was effective in scaling up a new, optimised flotation regime for the Project
Pre-piloting test work is already underway at ANSTO in preparation for pilot testing of the front end of the hydrometallurgical processing flow sheet
Chief Executive, William Dawes, said discussions in relation to sites for a rare earth separation plant are ongoing – this will process the high grade, purified mixed rare earth carbonate produced at Songwe, enriched in high value neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium
“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,” Mr Dawes said.
“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 (a DRA Global Group Company), with essential operating data for the Feasibility Study and to assist in engineering the company’s commercial scale operation.”
Mkango is developing the 51% owned Songwe Hill rare earths project in Malawi with the ongoing Feasibility Study funded through a £12 million investment by strategic partner Talaxis Limited.
In parallel, through its 75.5% interest in Maginito Limited, Mkango is developing green technology opportunities in the rare earths supply chain, encompassing neodymium (NdFeB) magnet recycling as well as innovative rare earth alloy, magnet and separation technologies, and recently invested in UK rare earth (NdFeB) magnet recycler, HyProMag Limited
Maginito’s strategy is underpinned by offtake rights for sustainably sourced primary and secondary raw materials from Songwe and HyProMag, respectively, and is geared to accelerating growth in the electric vehicle sector, wind power generation and other industries driven by decarbonization of the economy.
Mkango also has an extensive exploration portfolio in Malawi, including the recently announced Mchinji rutile discovery, for which assay results are pending, in addition to the Thambani uranium-tantalum-niobium-zircon project and Chimimbe nickel-cobalt project.
