Kanyika mine

Last updated
Kanyika mine
Location
Malawi adm location map.svg
Schlaegel und Eisen nach DIN 21800.svg
Kanyika mine
Location Mzimba District
Region Northern Region
Country Malawi
Coordinates 12°41′52″S33°40′10″E / 12.697868°S 33.669577°E / -12.697868; 33.669577 Coordinates: 12°41′52″S33°40′10″E / 12.697868°S 33.669577°E / -12.697868; 33.669577
Production
Products Niobium
Tantalum
Uranium
Zircon
Owner
CompanyGlobe Metals & Mining Ltd.
Website www.globemm.com/kanyika-niobium-project

The Kanyika mine is an open pit mine which extracts niobium ore from a large deposit located in northern Malawi in the Northern Region, about 250 kilometers north of Lilongwe. [1] It will be the second-largest mining operation in the country, behind the Kayelekera mine. [2] Kanyika represents one of the largest niobium mineral resource in Malawi having estimated resources of 60 million tonnes of ore grading 0.29% niobium metal. [3] The mine is the main project of the Australia-based Globe Metals & Mining Ltd.

Contents

History

Prospecting began in 2006, when Globe Metals received an Exclusive Prospecting License from the Malawian government. [4] The project was initially planned to be developed as a joint venture between globe and the South Africa based engineering firm Thuthuka Group. [5] [6] In 2011, Globe Metals was joined by the Nanjing based state owned enterprise East China Mineral Exploration and Development Bureau, which acquired a 51% stake in Globe Metals based on a $47 million investment. [7] [8] In 2012, the China Development Bank issued a letter of intent stating that it would finance the kanyika mine. [9] Bulk sampling was completed by early 2014, and 40 tons of crushed samples were sent to the Guangzhou Research Institute for Non-Ferrous Metals, where a pilot plant was constructed. [10] [11] As of 2021, the company obtained a license from the Malawian government to conduct large-scale mining. [12] [13] [14]

The raw ore is intended to be processed in an associated refinery which is to be built. After processing, the final form of the niobium will consist mostly of ferroniobium. [8]

Environmental and social impacts

Globe Metals ordered an environmental impact assessment which was conducted between October 2009 and November 2011 by the South Africa based Synergistics Environmental Services (Pty limited) and was released in July 2012. [15] The assessment raised concerns that water drawn from borehole wells in the area contained levels of uranium already above the World Health Organization's recommendations. [16]

Civil society groups such as the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and ActionAid have pushed for residents who will be displaced by the mine to receive adequate consultation and compensation. [17] Inkosi Mabilabo Jere, a Senior Chief of Mzimba, as well as John Alphonsus Ryan, Bishop of Mzuzu have both been critical of the government's lack of compensation for the affected locals. [18] [19] Globe Metals and Mining's executive director, Neville Haxham, has said that the project will create over 1,200 jobs and improve the economic standing of the local population. [20] In August of 2017, a lawsuit was filed in the regional capital of Mzuzu on behalf of 243 households who claimed that they had not been adequately compensated since they were displaced by the mine. [21] A key issue brought up at a mediation hearing in 2018 was households whose land had been disturbed during the exploration phase of the mine. [22]

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Ore Rock with valuable metals, minerals and elements

Ore is natural rock or sediment that contains one or more valuable minerals, typically containing metals, that can be mined, treated and sold at a profit. Ore is extracted from the earth through mining and treated or refined, often via smelting, to extract the valuable metals or minerals. The grade of ore refers to the concentration of the desired material it contains. The value of the metals or minerals a rock contains must be weighed against the cost of extraction to determine whether it is of sufficiently high grade to be worth mining, and is therefore considered an ore.

Tantalum Chemical element, symbol Ta and atomic number 73

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Coltan Tantalum-niobium ore

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References

  1. ↑ "GBE gets mining licence for $250m Kanyika niobium project in Malawi". NS Energy. 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  2. ↑ Kalebe, Yankho Naomi; Capua, Di (2018). "The significance of geoethical practices in Malawi: a case study of Globe Company and Kanyika area". EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts: 8429. Bibcode:2018EGUGA..20.8429K . Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  3. ↑ "Kanyika Niobium Project". globemetalsandmining.com.au. 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  4. ↑ "Kanyika court case goes for mediation in Malawi". Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  5. ↑ United States. Bureau of Mines; Geological Survey (U.S.) (2009). Minerals Yearbook. Bureau of Mines. p. 52-PA4. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  6. ↑ Iannucci, Esmarie (2010-04-20). "Thuthuka expects Kanyika 'issues' to be resolved by end-April". Mining Weekly. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  7. ↑ Buthelezi, Nomvelo (2011-11-04). "60 Mt mineral resource identified at Kanyika niobium project". Mining Weekly. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  8. 1 2 "Globe Metals & Mining nails landmark deal with China to fund Kanyika Niobium Project". Proactiveinvestors NA. 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  9. ↑ Kasalika, Johnny (2012-07-11). "China development bank to fund Kanyika project". The Nation Online. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  10. ↑ Chiyembekeza, Chikondi (2014-01-17). "Globe sends 40 tonnes Kanyika samples to China". The Nation Online. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  11. ↑ "Globe Metals and Mining Says Kanyika Pilot Plant Is Complete". Business Malawi. 2014-10-30. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  12. ↑ Grogan, Simone (2021-06-07). "Globe Metals & Mining (ASX:GBE) shares boosted 138pc as Kanyika Niobium licence falls within reach". The Market Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  13. ↑ Esmarie Iannucci (2021-07-27). "Globe looking for clarity at Kanyika". Engineering News. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  14. ↑ "Globe Metals & Mining gets licence for Kanyika niobium mine in Malawi". Mining Technology. 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  15. ↑ "Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Kanyika Niobium Project in T.A Mabulabo, Mzimba District". globemm.com. 2019-04-19. Archived from the original on 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  16. ↑ Kasalika, Johnny (2012-08-03). "Killer water at Kanyika Mine – The Nation Online". The Nation Online – More Than Just News. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  17. ↑ Chavula, James (2013-12-22). "Hunger overshadows Kanyika mine – The Nation Online". The Nation Online – More Than Just News. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  18. ↑ Bright Malenga (2017-07-12). "Chief condemns govt over niobium mining - Malawi news". Malawi 24. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  19. ↑ Alfred Chauwa (2015-02-05). "Malawi Ngoni chief Mabilabo slams Global Metal Mining". Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  20. ↑ Christopher Jimu (2014-10-09). "Kanyika Niobium Project to create 1200 jobs". The Nation Online. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  21. ↑ Singini, George (2017-09-04). "Kanyika mine in court". The Nation Online (in Latin). Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  22. ↑ "Kanyika and Globe Metals compensation case, mediation starts on good note". Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi. 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
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