Photo by: Globe Metals & Mining
Name of the Project
Kanyika niobium project.
Location
Central Malawi.
Project Owner/s
Globe Metals & Mining.
Project Description
Kanyika is positioned to be the first niobium mine in Africa and the first new producer in 50 years.
The project will have a life-of-mine (LoM) of about 23 years, with the capability to extend this to 38 years, subject to the conversion of inferred resources through further drilling.
Mining will involve conventional openpit methods comprising drill-and-blast, followed by loading and hauling using 70 t shovels and 40 t off-road articulated haul trucks.
Mineral processing will involve comminution at 1.5-million tonnes a year. This will involve crushing, followed by semiautogenous grinding and ball milling in a closed circuit with Derrick screen classifiers. Concentration involves magnetic separation, flotation beneficiation and gravity separation to produce (niobium/tantalum) pyrochlore mineral concentrate.
The mine will produce about 260 000 t of niobium and tantalum concentrate over the LoM and on average about 11300 t/y.
Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to employ and train thousands of local staff over the LoM, and through envisaged community programmes.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $1-billion and an internal rate of return of about 50%, with a payback of about 1.5 years from first production.
Capital Expenditure
Preproduction capital costs are estimated at $250-million.
Planned Start/End Date
The project will take 24 months to complete.
Latest Developments
Globe Metals & Mining has been given a slight reprieve in the timeline to develop its Kanyika niobium project.
The Malawian Commissioner of Mines and Minerals has provided the company with a letter stating that mine development at Kanyika will need to start within 18 months from the signing of the Mining Development Agreement (MDA), signed at the end of March 2023, with substantial commercial mineral production expected within 60 months from the signing of the MDA.
Globe previously applied to have this timeline extended from the date on which the mining licence had been registered.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Wood, Orelogy Mine Consulting and Globe Metals & Mining (operating costs).
Contact Details for Project Information
Globe Metals & Mining, tel +61 6118 7240 or email info@globemm.com.