Lindian Resources has propelled its Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi into full execution mode, securing critical long-lead processing equipment as construction activities intensify across multiple fronts. The company reports that procurement of essential plant items, including a SAG mill, thickener, flocculation plant, shaking tables, and belt filters, has significantly bolstered project timelines as it advances deeper into the build phase.
On-Site Momentum and Safety Milestones
On the ground, momentum is accelerating rapidly, with more than 550 personnel now engaged at the site. Lindian has achieved an impressive milestone of 200,000 lost-time-injury-free hours, highlighting a strong focus on safety. The company's owner-operated Komatsu mining fleet is actively developing haul roads, shaping construction platforms, and progressing earthworks for the tailings facility. This in-house approach provides tighter cost control and reduces reliance on external contractors.
Infrastructure Development and Key Deliverables
Non-process infrastructure is also taking shape, with the 90-person Tipume accommodation camp nearing completion. Administration buildings, a medical clinic, and security facilities are advancing well to support workforce mobilisation. According to Lindian Resources executive director Zac Komur, the project is firmly in execution mode, with earthworks well advanced, key infrastructure progressing, and orders placed for critical long-lead plant packages to secure delivery timing and protect the schedule.
Key milestones are now locked in, with plant construction and mine stripping set to commence this month. This will be followed by first blast activities in April, grid power energisation in July, and first ore feed later in the year. The Kangankunde project, located 90 kilometres north of Malawi's commercial hub, Blantyre, is renowned for its scale, high-grade mineralisation, and absence of radioactive elements.
Economic Advantages and Production Outlook
Stage one of the project is shaping up as a significant cash generator, with plans to produce a premium monazite concentrate grading approximately 55 per cent total rare earth oxides. Lindian believes this high-grade product mix will position the operation in the lowest quartile of the global cost curve, providing a built-in competitive edge. Notably, a June 2024 feasibility study identified the project as having one of the lowest capital and operating cost structures among rare earths projects worldwide—a rare achievement in a sector known for expensive builds and complex processing.
Cost Efficiency Through Owner-Operator Model
A major contributor to this cost advantage is Lindian's decision to adopt an owner-operator mining model. By maintaining the fleet in-house rather than outsourcing, the company anticipates reducing mining costs by about 30 per cent, thereby tightening margins and enhancing management's direct control over productivity. With higher forecast production volumes and a premium concentrate, the economic outlook becomes even more compelling. Average annual revenue is now estimated at roughly A$228.9 million, underscoring the potential significance of Kangankunde as it transitions from construction to steady-state production.
Lindian currently holds a resource of 261 million tonnes at 2.19 per cent total rare earth oxides and, with strategic backing from Iluka Resources, has effectively paired strong economics with execution certainty. The company's accelerating construction impetus and secured funding are driving Kangankunde towards recognition as one of the world's standout undeveloped rare earths deposits, with Lindian demonstrating a determined focus on delivering the project with pace and discipline.
