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(Alliance News) - Mkango Resources Ltd on Wednesday said it has started its flotation pilot plant test work for the Songwe Hill rare earths project in Malawi.
The explorer for rare earth elements in Malawi is developing the 51% owned Songwe Hill rare earths project with the ongoing feasibility study funded through a GBP12 million investment by its partner Talaxis Limited.
Mkango said the flotation pilot plant will provide SENET, an African project management and engineering firm, with operating data to assist the explorer in the engineering of its commercial scale operation. SENET was appointed project manager in September 2019.
Shares in Mkango Resources were up 25% at 21.95 pence in London on Wednesday.
The plant also will provide a mineral concentrate feed for hydro-metallurgical pilot testing at Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation in New South Wales, which will process the rare earth mineral concentrate produced from the plant.
Mkango said flotation is a "key part" of the processing flowsheet for Songwe, with "significant" test work having been completed in South Africa, Canada and Australia in order to increase grade and recovery from those in its pre-feasibility study.
"The start of pilot plant processing is a major milestone for the company and Mkango joins the ranks of the very few rare earths projects that have been advanced to this stage of development. Mkango is uniquely positioned in the rare earths sector with an integrated mine, refine, recycle strategy encompassing sustainably sourced rare earths from Malawi, rare earth magnet recycling in the UK, via its interest in HyProMag, and strategic options to develop EU and UK rare earth separation and refining capacity," said Chief Executive William Dawes.
By Zoe Wickens; zoewickens@alliancenews.com
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