Mining & Trade News

The Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) has expressed concern over political interference in its duties saying it is one of the challenges disrupting its work of bringing sanity in the mining sector.

MMRA Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Dikani Chibwe told Mining and Trade Review that some influential politicians, he declined to mention, interrupt their mandatory work mainly when some illegal miners are arrested by the Authority.

Chibwe said: “For instance, we apprehended some illegal miners in Nkhotakota and just few hours while they were in police custody, we received calls from influential politicians demanding their immediate release.”

“The situation left the police with no choice but to release them. As a regulatory body we feel powerless in such situations which are making it difficult for us to regulate the sector.”

MMRA is mandated to regulate the mineral sector in the development and utilization of mineral resources in line with sustainable development principles and best practices for the benefit of Malawians.

Chibwe admitted that there is an increase in illegal mining practices in the country but blamed the situation on traditional leaders as the ones exacerbating the problem by illegally allocating land for mining.

Commenting on the development, Chairperson for Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) Ben Chakhame blamed the public servants at MMRA for not disclosing the names of the said politicians to the public. Chakhame said the politicians were supposed to be named and shamed for others to learn a lesson.

He said: “The problem is them as public servants. They give room to this otherwise I, as a politician, if I go there and am reported, people can learn a lesson.

There are some politicians who are fueling this and they need to be mentioned.” “These are some of the things that have to come openly even in the media, people have to know. Name and shame them.”  

Coordinator for Natural Resources Justice Network (NRJN) Kennedy Rashid said the political interference in the regulatory affairs simply tells how abusive and weak the system is. Rashid said politicians are only allowed in policy making as policy shareholders but not enforcement in the abusive way.

He said: “I think there is a misconception by political actors. They feel like once they are politicians they are also regulators. “Politicians are policy makers and their role is to look at policy and advice on how the policy can be formulated.”

“But implementation of the policy is left out to technicians at Capital Hill that is government machinery itself that is now supposed to enforce and regulate.”

“When politicians come in to regulate that is illegal, according to Mines and Minerals Act and they can be penalized..” Apart from political interference, MMRA is also facing the problem of understaffing making it fail to meet its  targets.  

For as long as she can remember, Tupoche Makileni has been fascinated by the earth beneath her feet. Growing up in Malawi as the only girl among three brothers, with a teacher for a mother and an IT technician for a father, she found herself constantly asking: What are things made of? Where do these materials come from? Those early questions lit a spark that has carried her into a groundbreaking role at the heart of Malawi’s mining sector. Today, Tupoche - 34, leads the country’s first high-tech mineral laboratory at Sovereign Services, overseeing the processing of rutile and graphite samples and managing a team of 33 professionals—25% of them women.

Her path began with A-levels and a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences (Geology) from the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College. In 2017, she joined the Ministry of Mining under the Geological Survey Department, before Sovereign Services spotted her talent in 2019 and brought her on as a consultant. By 2022, she had risen to Laboratory Manager, steering a facility that sets the standard for accuracy, quality, and innovation.

Her mornings start with precision—planning resources, equipment, and workflows to ensure smooth operations. But it’s more than technical skill that drives her. “Drawing inspiration from daily challenges and being able to be a solution provider inspires me to come to work every day,” she says.

In a male-dominated industry, Tupoche is proof that leadership thrives on empowerment. She ensures every team member has a voice and a stake in the lab’s success. Her management style blends sharp analysis with empathy, enabling her to guide operations while nurturing talent.

Beyond the lab, she is also a wife and mother to a 1 year old daughter, and she hopes her journey shows that excellence and balance are possible. Her advice to other women forging careers in science and mining: “Work hard, stay curious, stay focused—and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. This field is always evolving, and so should you.

” What she values most about Sovereign Services is its culture of opportunity and growth. “Regardless of gender, everyone is encouraged to develop their skills through continuous training and to rise based on capability,” she notes.

From a little girl curious about rocks to a trailblazing leader unlocking the potential of Malawi’s mineral wealth, Tupoche’s story is proof that perseverance, passion, and purpose can shape both a career and a legacy.

Sovereign Services is the Malawi operation of Sovereign Metals Limited, which is focused on developing its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi to become a leading global supplier to the titanium and graphite industries.  

Kasiya is the world’s largest natural rutile deposit – the purest, highest-grade naturally occurring titanium feedstock – and the world’s second-largest flake graphite deposit – a battery mineral essential for the energy transition.

- Langmed & Baker

The Federation of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Malawi (FASMM) has expressed strong optimism regarding the sector’s potential to positively impact the country’s economy. FASMM emphasizes that, with adequate support and strategic interventions, artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) can transform livelihoods, reduce poverty, and contribute significantly to Malawi’s economic development.

FASMM President Percy Maleta made these remarks following visits to illegal mining hotspots in Lilongwe and Kasungu.

  Maleta stated, “With the right policies, partnerships, and enforcement strategies, the sector can shift from being perceived as illegal to being recognized as a key driver of sustainable development.”  

When asked about the motivation behind FASMM’s visits to illegal mining sites, Maleta explained that the federation aimed to understand the realities faced by miners on the ground, engage directly with artisanal miners, and explore pathways toward formalization of their activities.  

He highlighted some of the challenges confronting miners in these hotspots, including lack of proper licensing, poor safety standards, inadequate equipment, limited market access, and vulnerability to exploitation.

Despite these obstacles, some success stories have emerged from the visited hotspots. Maleta noted that miners are increasingly aware of the importance of formalization and have shown willingness to organize into cooperatives.  

“We have observed growing awareness among miners about the benefits of formalization, and many have expressed interest in organizing into cooperatives and engaging more openly with government structures,” he said.  

Maleta said FASMM aims to formalize illegal miners by advocating for simplified licensing procedures, cooperative development, responsible mining training, and the establishment of structured markets closer to mining hotspots.  

He also reiterated FASMM’s readiness to collaborate with government agencies in tackling illegal mining. “We plan to work together through joint site visits, stakeholder dialogues, and regular feedback mechanisms with the Ministry of Mining, the Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority, and law enforcement agencies,” Maleta said.  

Regarding government collaboration, Maleta suggested that authorities could involve FASMM more directly in policy formulation, support artisanal mining associations and cooperatives, and prioritize community engagement before enforcement actions.  

He emphasized that the government could better support artisanal miners and curb illegal activities through a clear artisanal mining framework, decentralized licensing systems, improved access to finance, and greater recognition of cooperatives.

The Federation was established in April this year as a unifying body for the country’s artisanal miners and traders. Its founding members include the Malawi Women in Mining Association (MAWIMA), Gemstone Association of Malawi (GAM), Women in Extractive, Energy and Mining Association (WEEMA), Blantyre Mining Association, and representatives from gold miners, ceramics, quarry operators, and youth groups active in the sector.

ASX-listed DY6 Metals has announced that it will commence follow-up exploration at high-grade Tundulu Gallium and Machinga Rare Earth Elements (REE) projects in southern Malawi.

DY6 Executive Chairman Daniel Smith explained in a Press Statement that the Company’s in-country team has already commenced community engagement within the prospecting licence areas ahead of these upcoming activities.

The highlights of the studies include:

Tundulu Rare Earth, Phosphate and Gallium Project

•  Follow-up exploration commencing: 75 soil and rock chip samples planned to build on the discovery of high-grade gallium (Ga) mineralisation.
• Large upside potential: Only 40% of the highly prospective area has been drill tested; mineralisation remains open at depth with the deep-seated gallium potential not assayed for.
• High-grade historical results: intercepts include 64.63g/t Ga2O3, 1.03% TREO from 45m for 25m, including 9m at 81.85g/t Ga203 from 61m (drillhole TU008), and up to 310.46 g/t Ga2O3, 5.68% TREO from 97m to 98m in drillhole TU043.

Machinga Heavy Rare Earths and Niobium Project

• New sampling campaign: 116 soil and rock chip samples planned to be collected across a 400m x 200m sample grid, targeting a strong radiometric anomaly as well as a follow-up of the recent results from the maiden Reverse Circulation (RC) & Diamond Drilling (DD) drilling campaign.
• Strong maiden RC and Diamond drilling results (2023): - 15.1m @ 1.01% TREO, 0.36% Nb2O5 from 23.9m (3.71% Dy/ Tb/TREO) incl. - 4m @ 1.75% TREO, 0.63% Nb2O5 from 33m (3.8% Dy/Tb/TREO) drilled downdip (diamond drillhole MDD007).
• Continuity confirmed: Mineralised zones correlate strongly with radiometric anomalies, enhancing confidence in targeting higher-grade areas with future drilling.
• Machinga remains significantly underexplored.

TUNDULU RARE EARTH AND PHOSPHATE PROJECT

A review of historical drilling at the Tundulu Rare Earth and Phosphate project in southern Malawi has uncovered high-grade gallium mineralisation from surface. This discovery complements the significant Rare Earth and Phosphate mineralisation already known in the licence area.

The planned campaign will collect 75 samples at Tundulu Project along with 11 sampling lines spaced at 50m intervals from north to South. The sample spacing on these lines will be at an alternating spacing of 50m and 100m. This sampling campaign targets ~60% of previously untested areas, while some sampling points are almost twinned with historic data points to confirm previously reported surface mineralisation.

MACHINGA HREE AND NB PROJECT

The recent rock chip results from the 2023 to 2024 soil and rock chip sampling programmes revealed significant exploration potential south of the initial drilling focus, with a significantly sized 2.7km long soil geochemical anomaly NW to SE.

The Company's rock chip sampling results over the southern region of Machinga anomaly follows a similar trend pattern to historic results by Globe Metals & Mining, potentially indicating additional REE mineralisation to be confirmed through future exploration. Based on these findings. additional field work has been recommended for the southern part of the new licence area EL0705 to define targets for future DY6 drilling programmes.

The Planned Soil and Rock chip sampling programme will commence shortly, with 116 samples planned on a 400m x 200m sample grid. This programme aims to test the radiometric and historical geochemical anomaly on recently granted licence EL0705, located to the south of the previously drilled and sampled area.

DY6 Metals CEO Cliff Fitzhenry said: "Previous identification of high-grade gallium mineralisation at Tundulu presents a unique opportunity for DY6 to advance a critical metal alongside rare earths and phosphate. With only a portion of the licence area tested to date, we see significant potential to expand the footprint of gallium and rare earth mineralisation across both Tundulu and Machinga.”

“The upcoming sampling programs are designed to build on our recent successes and to further define high-value targets for follow-up drilling. Importantly, our initial work at Machinga has already confirmed excellent grade continuity, giving us confidence in the growth potential of these projects. We are excited to be advancing exploration in Malawi at a time when demand for critical metals is forecast to grow strongly."

METALURGICAL UPDATE – TUNDULU RARE EARTH PROJECT

Meanwhile, preliminary metallurgical testwork undertaken on a 120kg composite sample from a high-grade historic trench (TUTR10) at Tundulu has returned grades of 1.88% TREO and 9.07% P2O5.

The REE mineralogy is dominated by bastnaesite and synchysite which are finely distributed in an apatite carbonate gangue, closely resembling the mineralogy of the nearby Songwe Hill Project (Mkango Resources), thereby supporting regional metallurgical familiarity.  

Flotation testwork undertaken by DY6 to date has been limited, with only 16 flotation tests undertaken. Fitzhenry explained that the Company considers that through further testwork, it will be possible to achieve a concentrate grade suitable for treatment via a centralised hydrometallurgical plant.

He said the elevated phosphate grades of the deposit are also amenable to being upgraded into a flotation concentrate, thereby providing the potential opportunity of developing a fast and cheap direct fertiliser product from the near-surface high grade phosphate zones within the deposit. This offers a staged approach to overall project development from an initial low risk and low capital investment.

Bioavailability test work targeting phosphate-rich rocks, in order to determine the solubility of phosphate in the samples and to understand its potential for direct fertilization, showed excellent P solubility (using 2% citric acid) of over 40%, with one test returning solubility of 81%. This is above the industry threshold of 9.4% P2O5 solubility using citric acid as the reagent in the acid leach process.  

“These preliminary metallurgical testwork results, while in no way exhaustive, are encouraging. The fine-grained nature of the dominant REE minerals (bastnaesite and synchysite) hosted within an apatite carbonate gangue has highlighted the need to undertake additional testwork to produce a high grade concentrate suitable for processing within a hydrometallurgical plant. Additionally, the high phosphate grades lend a co-product phosphoric acid grade flotation concentrate opportunity. We are confident that, with carefully planned follow-up testwork we will be able to further unlock the significant co-product opportunity that exists at Tundulu,” Fitzhenry commented.

Yami Gemstone Lab & Exports (YAGLE) says its operations remain paralyzed as the Ministry of Mining and the Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) have yet to assess and certify its gemstone inventory, more than three years after its first proposal submission, with gemstone export ban now in place.

Speaking in an interview, YAGLE owner and gemologist Yamikani Jimusole expressed frustration that despite repeated letters and meetings with both the Ministry and MMRA, no concrete action has been taken by government. “We have been waiting since 2022 for a credible assessment of our inventory.

We were told in May 2024 that our request was forwarded to the relevant section, but to this day, nothing has been done,” he said.

Jimusole lamented that this lack of valuation has far-reaching consequences since though YAGLE has built a sizeable inventory for small-scale mining activities in Mzimba, it cannot sell or export the gemstones without official certification.

“We are sitting on gemstones that can bring in significant revenue for us and for Malawi through royalties and taxes, yet we are blocked because there is no proper system in place,” he said.

Jimusole said the situation worsened in February this year when Vice President Michael Usi announced the suspension of gemstone exports, citing undervaluation and poor valuation systems.

He said initially the suspension appeared as a necessary reform but lack of a roadmap has left businesses stranded.

“We fully support the suspension because it aligns with the reforms we have been advocating for, for years now. But what is the plan? As of September 2025, there are still no accredited gemologists in government service, and it is not clear when the export ban will end,” he said.

Jimusole argued that the absence of a functional valuation framework is costing not only the company but also the country at large. He revealed that the company lost out on a prestigious Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Jewelry Design Scholarship and an invitation to the Africa Startup Forum 2025 because it could not demonstrate transparent valuations of its inventory.

“We are missing global opportunities because Malawi still lacks proper certification systems. This is bigger than just YAGLE; it is about the credibility of our entire gemstone industry,”

Jimusole stressed. The delays have also jeopardized YAGLE’s access to financing. In letters to both MMRA and the Office of the President and Cabinet, the company argued that proper valuation would help secure funding from the National Bank of Malawi and NBS Bank.

“Banks cannot support us without credible valuations. This is why timely assessments are not just important but they are essential for the growth of the mining sector,” he said.

YAGLE has since escalated the matter beyond the Ministry. Copies of letters seen by Mining & Trade Review show the company petitioning the Office of the President and Cabinet and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for intervention.

Jimusole said these steps were not taken lightly, “we wanted to resolve this internally, but after years of silence and substandard reports, we had no choice but to seek external support.”

Beyond its own operations, YAGLE has consistently advocated for reforms in Malawi’s gemstone industry, arguing that the country has the potential to generate over $1 billion annually from gemstones if systems are properly established.

“Malawi is blessed with rubies, sapphires, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnets and more. With proper certification, our gemstones can compete globally, creating jobs, boosting exports, and generating revenue for government,” Jimusole said.

He emphasized that the delays by government are undermining investor confidence. “How can we attract serious buyers or partners when our government cannot even provide a credible valuation system? Investors need transparency, and without it, we are chasing them away,” he said.

As of now, YAGLE is awaiting feedback from MMRA and UNDP, while also calling for urgent political will to unlock the gemstone industry’s potential.

With credible valuation and certification systems in place, Malawi’s gemstone sector has the potential to contribute significantly to the country’s economy through exports, royalties and job creation.

Malawi President His Excellency Dr Lazarus Chakwera has officially inaugurated the Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Karonga marking the restart of the mine, which was placed on care and maintenance in February 2014 by the previous operator Paladin Africa due to a sharp decline in prices of the yellow cake on the world market.

ASX-listed Lotus Resources, who currently runs the mine, said in a statement that the official opening of the mine by the President demonstrates the tremendous support of Kayelekera by the Government of Malawi.

Lotus Managing Director Greg Bittar commented: “We were honoured to welcome His Excellency, Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, to preside over the official inauguration of the commissioning and restart of the Kayelekera Uranium Mine. His Excellency, the Government of Malawi, the traditional authorities of regions around Kayelekera and the local communities, have all been pivotal in this achievement.”

“We continue to make terrific progress in commissioning the plant and increasing mill throughput, and we are on track to achieve steady state 200,000lbs per month - 2.4M lbs per annum - production in early CY2026.”

“Beyond the mill, the extensive commissioning work that the team has completed throughout the processing plant with the processing of high-grade ore over the past 14 days means we now have uranium inventory ready for the last stages of precipitation, drying and packaging. Final plant commissioning, focused on control system automation of the drying and packaging circuit, is being completed.”

“We have ramped up the work on the tailings storage facility infrastructure to form the foundation for future lifts to accommodate the 10-year life of mine.”  

The inauguration ceremony was also graced by Malawi’s Minister of Mining Honourable Dr Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma, other Cabinet Ministers, Royal Highness Paramount Chief Kyungu and traditional leaders of Karonga and Chitipa, and many other distinguished guests.

This ceremony acknowledged the tremendous commitment of the Government of Malawi, the traditional leaders and regional communities in supporting Lotus Africa and the Project as the Government looks to unlock the value of this country’s natural resources for the benefit of all Malawians.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chakwera hailed Lotus for working with speed to resume production at the mine, and stressed the importance of the mine to the economy of the country.

“The Malawi Government fully supports the Kayelekera Uranium Mining Project as Mining is key to the country’s growth strategy, Malawi 2063, and my government’s economic development strategy, Agriculture, Tourism, Mining and Manufacturing (ATMM),” he said.

The President also urged stakeholders to desist from political manipulation, which may impact continued operations of the mine.

Minister of Mining Dr Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma assured Malawians that the mine will adequately benefit the country saying the Mining Development Agreement (MDA) that the Malawi Government signed with Lotus has created a win-win situation between the Nation and the Company.

“We have improved the MDA from the previous one we signed with Paladin to ensure that Malawi gets ample benefits from the mine,” he said.

Paramount Chief Kyungu of Karonga and Chitipa Districts commended Lotus for signing a Community Development Agreement for Kayelekera, and urged the Company to ensure that it fulfills all commitments made in the agreement.

“As Chiefs, we want all the community development projects outlined in the Agreement to be implemented since the mine is now productive,” he said.

Restart performance on track with uranium ready for precipitation  

Bittar explained in the statement that operations at Kayelekera continue to ramp up with the milling circuit performing in line with recommissioning expectations. Throughput rates are steadily increasing as expected in the planned ramp-up program.

“Consistent with the planned use of mined ore stockpiles to restart production ahead of switching to freshly mined ore in Q4 of CY 2025, ore stockpile re-handling commenced on 31 July 2025. Ore feed rates and grades for the early stage of production are comfortably meeting expectations.”

“We will continue to utilise about 300 000 tons of stockpile ore, representing about 3 months of mill feed, until mining commences.”

Following the commencement of processing of high-grade ore, leaching and reagent dosing into the circuit to initiate and sustain uranium extraction as announced previously, the following key milestones have now been achieved:

•  Resin transfer to elution: Loaded resins have been successfully transferred from the resin-in-pulp (RIP) circuit to the elution circuit, which is now charged and ready for production runs; and
• Eluate transfer to precipitation circuit: The first transfer of eluate to the precipitation circuit has been completed, enabling the next stage of uranium recovery.

“As of the date of this announcement, ~1,500 kgs of uranium (equivalent to approx. 3.5klb U3O8) had been eluted and is ready for precipitation,” Bittar said.

Tailings Storage Facility progress

The Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) embankment raises are planned across six phases over the life of mine period. Phase 1 has been sub-divided into Phase 1A and Phase 1B. Phase 1A involves a top hat raise of the north embankment, profiling of the west embankment and lining the downstream perimeter of the TSF. Phase 1B involves the widening of the north embankment to its full life of mine footprint to support the subsequent future lifts in Phases 2 to 6. The design is in compliance with Australian National Committee on Large Dams – Guidelines on Tailings Dams (ANCOLD 2019) and aligns with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM 2020).

TSF works for Phases 1A and 1B involving the initial embankment raise, lining and widening are well underway.  

Small-scale gypsum miners in Mponela, Dowa are seeking support from government and potential financial partners to scale up production and meet the growing demand for the development mineral in different areas including cement production in which gypsum is used as a raw material in clinker manufacturing.

Gypsum miner and President of the Federation of Women and Youth in Mining (FWYM), the Women in Energy, Extractives and Mining Association (WEEMA) and FAMILJSA women mining cooperative Anne Kamanga said utilization of the cooperative’s locally sourced gypsum will help reduce imports of raw materials for cement production in light of the prevailing foreign exchange shortages Malawi is experiencing.  

“Our gypsum has already been approved for fertilizer use, what we need now is proper testing and support to prove its suitability for cement,” she said.

Currently, the FAMILJSA women mining cooperative produces gypsum mainly for fertilizer, and the ASMs under the banner of WEEMA have secured between 40 and 60 hectares to increase production but Kamanga lamented that delays in the licencing process has delayed operationalization.  

“Pending licenses have discouraged potential investors who were ready to fund large-scale production,” she said. Kamanga also said cooperatives like FAMILJSA and WEEMA lack the heavy machinery, skilled workforce, and transport needed to meet the demand of big potential customers such as cement producers.

“What is urgently needed is licensing, access to financing and processing equipment,” she said.

Kamanga explained that in order to supply cement producers, the ASMs are also waiting for the Geological Survey Laboratory to test the gypsum to determine whether it meets the quality standards required by cement manufacturers.

She said: “As a country, we cannot afford to keep importing what we already have. Malawi has the resources and what we need now is the will, the licenses, and the investment to turn gypsum into a solution for both our agriculture and construction sectors.”

Gypsum is used in cement production, fertilizer manufacturing, chalk production and other industrial applications worldwide.

Local cement producers import gypsum from as far as Oman.

Malawi is currently experiencing a cement shortage which has resulted in the rise in prices for the product forcing the government to court Zambian producers to supply Malawi with the commodity.

Local cement manufacturers have attributed their failure to meet domestic demand for cement to difficulties in sourcing foreign exchange to import gypsum and spare parts for maintenance of clinker plants.

Shayona Cement Corporation operates a clinker plant in Kasungu while Cement Products has one in Mangochi, and Portland Cement is finalizing construction of a plant in Balaka. 

ASX-listed Sovereign Metals has announced exceptional first-year results from its rehabilitation trials at the Kasiya Rutile Graphite Project in Lilongwe, delivering critical data that will inform the progressive rehabilitation strategy for the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).

MD for Sovereign Metals Frank Eagar says in a Press Statement that the successful rehabilitation trials address a key component of Kasiya's development pathway, demonstrating that post-mining land can achieve superior agricultural productivity compared to pre-mining conditions.

Eagar explains that with maize yields of 5.2 tonnes per hectare versus the regional average of 1 tonne per hectare, the trials validate Sovereign's progressive mining, back-filling and rehabilitation approach that will be integrated into the DFS.

He says: "These outstanding rehabilitation results represent another critical milestone in our systematic approach to developing Kasiya into a Tier 1, low carbon, sustainable operation. The empirical data from these trials directly informs our DFS rehabilitation strategy, further de-risking the project while demonstrating exceptional ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) credentials.”

“With oversight from the joint SVM – Rio Technical Committee, we continue to advance the genuine Tier 1 Kasiya Project.”

Sovereign Metals’ Rehabilitation Lead and Environmental Manager Marco Da Cunha comments that the Company is fully committed to rehabilitating all disturbed land so it can be used for sustainable agricultural activities well beyond the mine life.

“We partnered with local farmers where we successfully tested several rehabilitation options to develop a model for agronomic-driven soil rehabilitation to be adopted by Sovereign during mining,” says Da Cunha.

Successful rehabilitation results further de-risk DFS

The 10-hectare pilot program achieved a 5-times crop yield improvement through soil remediation, engaging 28 local farmers as partners and proving the rehabilitation process to be effective for a scaled-up implementation.

Sovereign followed a systematic six-step rehabilitation process that successfully restored the disturbed land back to productive agricultural use including:

1. Land preparation with complete backfill     and grading to original contours.
2. Soil nutrient enhancement via application of     locally sourced lime, biochar and fertilisers.
3. Mechanical integration using     community-sourced equipment.
4. Strategic planting of bamboo blocks with     intercropped maize and legumes.
5. Harvest success delivering 5.2 tonnes/hectare     average yield
6. Year-round productivity enabled by drip     irrigation for winter farming programs.

The rehabilitation approach combines proven agronomic practices with innovative techniques, including biochar application, precision nutrient management, and intercropping with Giant Bamboo – creating a replicable model for the broader Kasiya development. These rehabilitation results will be integrated into Sovereign's progressive rehabilitation strategy within the DFS, supporting:

• Project-specific closure provisioning through    demonstrated restoration success.
• Enhanced community value proposition via improved    post-mining land productivity.
• Proven environmental stewardship.
• Strengthened ESG positioning.

Community partnership model

Eagar explains that the trials established a proven framework for community engagement that will scale across Kasiya's development.

Sovereign secured the 10-hectare trial site through a two-year lease from local farmers. The Company worked together with the local farmers to remediate the soils, and plant bamboo and maize crops, deliberately favouring local labour over advanced mechanisation to maximise local benefits.

Eagar says this approach allowed both Sovereign and farmers to directly experience the rehabilitation trials and learn key lessons together, with the land to be returned to the farmers once the 2025-2026 farming season harvest is collected.

“This collaborative approach has strengthened Sovereign's social license by building long-term stakeholder support, creating a replicable model with a systematic approach ready for broader implementation across the Project,” he says.

Overview

Sovereign discovered Kasiya in 2019 after identifying the potential of a new rutile province in Malawi. Today, Kasiya stands out as the world’s largest known natural rutile deposit and second largest known flake graphite deposit and holds the accolade of one of only 11 Tier 1 mining projects discovered in the last decade.

The Kasiya Rutile-Graphite deposit is in an area northwest of Malawi’s capital Lilongwe called the Lilongwe Plain. Kasiya is the largest rutile deposit in the world with a Mineral Resource Estimate of 1.8Bt at 1.0% rutile resulting in 17.9Mt tonnes of contained natural rutile.

Rutile is the purest, highest-grade naturally occurring form of titanium. Titanium serves a range of industrial markets due to its remarkable properties. Titanium is highly corrosion resistant and chemically inert while offering a high strength-to-weight ratio. In its form as titanium dioxide, titanium feedstock is also essential for pigment manufacturing, for example in paints and paper.

In its metal form, titanium is as strong as steel, but 45% lighter, and twice as strong as aluminium, but only 60% heavier. As a result, the metal is used extensively in aerospace, defence, healthcare, and technology applications.

Graphite is a naturally occurring crystalline form of the element carbon. Occurring within rutile mineralisation, graphite is a “by-product” from Kasiya. Kasiya is the second largest flake graphite deposit in the world with a Mineral Resource Estimate of 1.8Bt at 1.4% graphite resulting in 24.4Mt tonnes of contained natural graphite.

Graphite is used in multiple industries, but demand in batteries is the high-growth area. With Kasiya’s natural graphite being suitable for the manufacture of active anode material, the Project is set to become the largest secure long term source of supply outside of China, producing natural graphite at an industry low operating cost.

As the Nation draws closer to general elections on September 16, Civil Society Organizations operating in the extractive sector under the banner of the Natural Resources Justice Network (NRJN) have called on political parties to commit to upholding transparency and accountability in the management of government revenue realized from mining activities.

The call was made during an Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) dialogue which NRJN organized in Mponela, Dowa, targeting Secretary Generals of key political parties in Malawi namely: Malawi Congress Party (MCP). United Democratic Front (UDF), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Transformation Party (UTM) and, Peoples Party (PP)

Chairperson for Centre for Multiparty Democracy who is Secretary General for Peoples Party Ben Chakhame in an interview at the event hailed the meeting saying it came at an opportune time when a lot have to be improved in the mining sector.

He said it is now time for politicians together with other duty bearers to hold hands and start turning ideas to boost Malawi’s mineral sector into action.

He said: “Just to call a spade a spade we have so many people who are sleeping on their jobs not only in mining sector alone but in the whole government machinery.”

“We need leadership which has political will and is action oriented. we should not be preaching theories forever but we should take those theories into action.”

“There is too much bureaucracy or red tape in government departments. You find a very important document lying on somebody’s desk for months or a year awaiting a mere signature.”

Chakhame, however, expressed concern over the timing of the meeting suggesting that it should be organized after a new party comes into power.

“This is benchmarking where we are putting milestones, so periodically we have to be checking administration in power if we are moving in the right direction because we have a lot to improve in the sector,” he said.

In his remarks, Coordinator for NRJN Kennedy Rashid said the meeting acted as a platform where political parties, CSOs and government agencies can connect and exchange ideas on how to transform the sector.

Rashid said: “We thought of engaging the political parties because we understand that one of them will be taking over come next elections.”

“We wanted to try to learn from them, try to share with them what we know, and also connect them to some various government agencies like Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA), MWEITI Secretariat and Department of Mines.”

Almost all key political parties to contest in the coming elections have unveiled their manifestos which among others incorporate plans for developing the mining sector. Rashid, however, expressed disappointment that all manifestos are not clearly indicating how they will develop the mining sector.

He said: “One of the gaps we continue to see in political party manifestos is the tendency to speak about ‘developing the mining sector’ in very general terms without providing concrete commitments.”

“What Malawians need from parties ahead of the elections are specific, time-bound actions on key issues that will determine whether the mining sector becomes a true driver of inclusive growth or a source of conflict and lost opportunity.”

“Parties must commit to transparency and contract disclosure, ensuring that all mining contracts are published so that citizens know the terms under which their resources are being exploited.”

Rashid also said the parties need clear plans on revenue management and accountability, detailing how mining revenues will be collected, reported, and reinvested for national and local development.

He explained that community benefits and environmental stewardship should be explicitly addressed, outlining what mechanisms will ensure that mining-affected communities see tangible benefits while their environment is safeguarded.

Rashid called for legal and institutional reforms to be a priority area, especially strengthening regulatory institutions, closing legal loopholes, and aligning Malawi’s framework with international best practices.

“Parties must embrace civic participation, accountability, and grievance mechanisms so that citizens, civil society, and communities have a voice in mining governance and can raise concerns without fear. Mining cannot exist in isolation; parties should outline strategies for linkages and infrastructure, showing how mining will connect to local industries, skills development, and broader economic growth,” he said.

The EITI dialogue is part of the project that NRJN is implementing titled "Exposing Illicit Financial Flows in Mining and Reinforcing Compliance with the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global standard that promotes open and accountable management of natural resources.