Mkango Res Share News (MKA)

(Sharecast News) - Mkango Resources announced on Thursday that its management team, as well as Malawian geotechnical engineering firm Geoconsult and South African peer Zutari, are now on site at the Songwe Hill Rare Earths development project to start a "major" geotechnical drilling and pitting programme.
The AIM-traded firm said the programme would obtain samples from around 150 five-metre-deep pits and 22 20-metre drill holes.

It said it was being undertaken to confirm the soil and ground characteristics of the Songwe Hill project area.

The geotechnical samples would be tested and investigated in Malawi at the Geoconsult laboratories in Lilongwe, and would provide the detailed geotechnical information required to finalise the detailed engineering design plans, prior to the completion of the definitive feasibility study in the first quarter of 2022.

"This major geotechnical investigation program is currently employing and training over 120 local Malawian skilled and unskilled personnel," said company president Alexander Lemon.

"We are very proud to be working with leading Malawian companies such as Geoconsult and also Torrent, a local Blantyre-based plant hire company, promoting Malawian local content and community participation in the ongoing development of this exciting rare earths project."

At 1220 BST, shares in Mkango Resources were up 1.61% at 27.69p.