By: Mariaan Webb
The Malawi government has granted Australia-listed Globe Metals & Mining an additional year to begin substantial mine development at its Kanyika niobium project. CEO Paul Smith hailed the extension as a “clear-cut positive” for the project, which now has until September 27, 2025, to commence development.
“The extension provides ample time to advance several critical processes essential for the project’s successful delivery,” said Smith.
These include securing funding initiatives and offtake agreements, completing key technical design and engineering tasks, and fulfilling social and environmental commitments.
The request for more time followed minor delays in finalising a mine development agreement with the government.
Kanyika, set to be Africa’s first niobium mine, will be developed in two phases. Phase 1 involves the development of an 86 000 t/y run-of-mine operation producing 1 760 t/y of concentrate, increasing in Phase 2 to 1.5-million tonnes a year producing 17 700 t/y of concentrate.
Kanyika will have nameplate production of 3 267 t/y of niobium pentoxide, and 136 t/y of tantalum pentoxide over its 27-year life-of-mine. The products will be high-specification and -purity products with grades of more than 99.5% and 99% respectively
