Mining & Trade News

Minister of Energy and Mining Honourable Dr. Jean Mathanga, MP attended the African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. She led Malawi’s delegation at the Indaba which took place from February 9-12 2026.

The African Mining Indaba is one of Africa’s leading platforms for mining investment dialogue, bringing together governments, investors, financiers and mining companies from across the continent and beyond.

Malawi’s participation provided a strategic opportunity to position the country as an emerging destination for responsible and sustainable mining investment.

During the Indaba, the Minister engaged with potential investors, mining companies and development partners to showcase Malawi’s mineral potential, ongoing sector reforms and available investment opportunities across the mining value chain, including exploration, project development, financing and value addition.

The Honourable Minister participated in the Ministerial Symposium which brought together African Ministers, global investors and industry leaders to deliberate on key issues shaping the future of Africa’s mining sector, including critical minerals, investment promotion, sustainable mining practices and policy reforms.

Honourable Mathanga highlighted Malawi’s growing role in the global critical minerals supply chain during a high-level investment panel discussion hosted by the United States Embassy at the Indaba.

She noted that Malawi’s deposits of graphite, rare earth elements, rutile and uranium position the country to support the global energy transition and diversified supply chains.

The Minister cited major projects including Kasiya, Kangankunde, Songwe Hill, Kanyika and the reopening of Kayelekera Uranium Mine as key investment opportunities expected to boost jobs, exports and industrial growth.

She further highlighted reforms under the 2023 Mines and Minerals Act, including the establishment of an independent regulator, promotion of value addition, transparency and community participation.

Dr. Mathanga also pointed to Government investments in energy and transport infrastructure, with the Nacala Development Corridor serving as a key export route.

She added that support from international partners, including development finance institutions and the United States Government, is helping de-risk mining investments through technical assistance, infrastructure development and strong Envionmental and Scial Governance (ESG) standards, positioning Malawi as an emerging hub for critical minerals.

The Ministry views the Indaba as a key platform to strengthen Malawi’s visibility on the continental and global mining investment stage, while advancing Government’s agenda of attracting responsible investment to drive economic growth and economic diversification.

Malawi’s participation at the African Mining Indaba 2026 underscores Government’s commitment to promoting sustainable development, strengthening partnerships and unlocking long term investment in the mining sector. -Ministry of Energy and Mining

The Honourable Minister of Energy and Mining, Dr. Jean Mathanga, MP, has expressed appreciation over the work of Shayona Cement Corporation in promoting local value addition in line with government’s industrialization agenda reflected in the national vision, Malawi 2063.

The Minister, who was speaking on her tour of Shayona’s cement production factory in Kasungu, said that government’s interest is to ensure that value addition is done within Malawi, reducing reliance on imported products.

She stressed that increased local cement production will create jobs, support economic growth, and position Malawi as a potential exporter once capacity is scaled up.

Shayona’s Human Resources and Administration Manager Austin Mvula urged the government to address the challenges affecting the plant’s operations including power shortages, poor condition of roads and market hiccups as a result of the influx of cement imports.

“We are forced to use diesel generators due to the regular power outages, which is a very expensive alternative,” he said.  

Mathnga acknowledged the challenges including intermittent power supply (SAPP) stating that government is exploring regional solutions such as connecting to the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) through Mozambique - Malawi Power Interconnector..

She also commended Shayona for its ongoing expansion works at the factory and called on all local cement manufacturers to invest in similar projects to avoid shortages of the commodity on the local market, stressing that Malawi must move beyond being merely a source of raw materials to an exporter of end-products.

Malawi has three local manufacturers of cement namely Shayona, Cement Products which has a clinker plant in Mangochi and Portland Cement with a clinker plant in Balaka.

Shayona mainly distributes its cement in the central and northern regions of Malawi, with leading brands including Akshar. Thanthwe and buildplast.

The company sources limestone for clinker production from its mines close to the factory. -Ministry of Energy and Mining

Strategic Rare Earths Recovered at Kasiya

ASX-listed Sovereign Metals has announced a significant and strategic rare earth value addition to its Kasiya Rutile Graphite Project in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Sovereign’s MD and CEO Frank Eagar says in a statement the Company has successfully recovered a monazite product containing high-value heavy rare earth elements (REE) from the tailings stream generated during rutile processing at its upgraded Lilongwe laboratory facilities.

The concentrate was recovered from material that would otherwise be discarded; the non-conductor tailings stream from electrostatic separation of a heavy mineral gravity concentrate of Kasiya ore.

Eager explains that producing a monazite concentrate would therefore require no additional complex processing.

He states that chemical analysis of magnetic concentrates from processed resource drilling samples performed by Scientific Services South Africa confirmed the favourable rare earth oxide distributions produced from the monazite concentrate.

Preliminary analysis has confirmed the monazite concentrate contains exceptional heavy rare earth content averaging 2.9% (and up to 3.9%) combined DyTb and averaging 11.9% (and up to 17.3%) yttrium, and light rare earth content of 21.8% neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr).

This composition sets Kasiya apart from all major global rare earth producers. The five largest operations – which together account for over 70% of global production – are dominated by light rare earth elements. Strategically critical heavy rare earths urgently required by US, Japan and EU advanced technology, defence, and industrial supply chains are present only in trace amounts, or absent entirely, in these deposits.

Eagar comments: “This is an exceptional development that has the potential to fundamentally enhance Kasiya’s strategic significance. With simple processing, our upgraded laboratory has recovered a valuable monazite concentrate product from the rutile tailings stream, with heavy rare earth content that the world’s major producers simply cannot match.”

“These are precisely the elements that matter most to nations seeking to protect and grow their critical mineral supply chains. Dysprosium and terbium enable permanent magnets to function in advanced technologies, including robotics, fighter jets, guided missiles, and naval propulsion systems. Yttrium protects jet engines and hypersonic vehicles from extreme temperatures. China imposed export controls on all three in April 2025, and Western supply chains are now acutely exposed.”

“What makes this value addition particularly significant is that this product was recovered from our rutile processing tailings stream. We are not currently contemplating a complex, standalone rare earth operation. We have recovered critically strategic rare earths from what would otherwise be discarded – a by-product of the processing route we will use for rutile and graphite production.”

“Kasiya’s rutile will feed aerospace-grade titanium production. Our graphite is essential for battery anodes and traditional industrial applications. And now Kasiya has the potential to also deliver critical heavy rare earths. We have an exciting workstream ahead of us as the potential of the heavy rare earth minerals is delineated. The recent visit by the US State Department to our Malawi operations, combined with our Collaboration Agreement with the World Bank International Finance Corporation (IFC), reflects the strategic importance that governments and institutions are beginning to attach to Kasiya.”

Preliminary analysis versus major global producers  

Global rare earth production is concentrated in five major operations: three in China (Bayan Obo, Weishan, Maoniuping), one in Australia operated by Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (Mt Weld), and one in the United States operated by MP Materials Corp (Mountain Pass). Together, these mines supply over 70% of the world’s rare earth production.

All five are dominated by light rare earths – principally lanthanum and cerium, which are abundant and low-value, and the magnet rare earths Neodymium and Praseodymium (NdPr). The strategically critical heavy rare earths – dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium – that underpin high performance advanced technology, defence, industrial and renewable energy applications are present in much smaller amounts. Kasiya’s heavy rare earth content is approximately 7x higher for both DyTb and yttrium than found in the five largest rare earth producing mines. Mountain Pass – America’s only rare earth mine – contains no measurable DyTb or yttrium.

China’s April 2025 export controls on dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium have created acute supply shortages for Western manufacturers. On January 6. 2026, China announced strengthened export controls on dual-use items to Japan, effective immediately. Despite 15 years of diversification efforts, Japan remains approximately 60% dependent on Chinese rare earth imports. For heavy rare earths, Japan’s dependence on China approaches 100%. Meanwhile, the US is 100% reliant on imports for its yttrium requirements.

Preliminary analysis of Kasiya’s monazite REE content demonstrates one of the highest combined heavy rare earth profiles while maintaining NdPr levels comparable to many REE development projects that have received government backing.

The US State Department visited Sovereign’s operations in Malawi in late 2025 as part of a broader engagement with strategically significant critical minerals projects in Africa.

Rare Earths by-product from existing process

Total rare earth oxide was analysed for in magnetic heavy mineral concentrates produced from aircore drilling samples during laboratory analysis for rutile. The magnetic concentrates were composited by depth interval (0-6m and 6-20m) to assess variation in mineralogy with depth associated with weathering units.

Separately, monazite concentrates were produced from bulk samples processed through the standard Kasiya flowsheet. Gravity concentrates were subjected to electrostatic separation, with the non-conductor stream then subjected to further gravity separation, followed by magnetic separation to produce a magnetic monazite concentrate. Duplicate analyses confirmed excellent repeatability. Chemical analysis to determine the distribution of rare earth oxides was conducted by the Scientific Services South Africa laboratory.

Next steps

Sovereign will now undertake further work to characterise the monazite mineralisation at Kasiya, including:

• Detailed mineralogical characterisation of monazite occurrence and distribution within the Kasiya orebody;
•  Assessment of heavy rare earth concentrate recovery rates through the proposed Kasiya processing flowsheet; and
• Evaluation of potential scale of rare earth production as a by-product and associated economics.

The Malawi Government has initiated a feasibility study for minerals revenue management and development of Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

The study is supported by the UK-funded Malawi Value Chains (MVC) Project, implemented by Adam Smith International, in partnership with the Office of the President and Cabinet – in particular the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Technical Working Group on Natural Resources, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, and the Ministry of Energy and Mining.

A confidential draft of the Study prepared for stakeholder consultation reads that the feasibility study will provide evidence-based recommendations on the best options for effective management of revenues from mining for the country.

The study also aims to examine the most suitable revenue management systems, including various SWF models, based on evidence of the potential future revenue from the mining sector and economic, political and social context.

It says pecifically, the study will assess the potential scale and timing of revenue from Malawi’s mining sector, and variables that may influence this. The study will also identify and evaluate revenue management models suited to Malawi’s context, including SWFs.

It will also analyse the potential economic and social costs and benefits of different models; evaluate applicable potential risks and mitigating strategies, drawing from comparable case studies; identify and assess technical, institutional and legal framework barriers and provide recommendations and; develop an actionable implementation plan for the most salient revenue management systems or relevant SWFs tailored to Malawi’s existing policy, legal and regulatory framework Malawi is positioning itself for a minerals-driven economic transformation, with several mineral prospecting projects anticipated to reach final investment decisions in the next 2-5 years.

The report indicates that based on optimistic revenue projections for six of Malawi’s seven operating or prospective industrial mines (Kayelekera, Kasiya, Malingunde, Kanyika, Songwe Hill and Kangankunde), the Government could collect roughly US$19 million in 2026 and US$622 million in 2036 in nominal terms (US$450 million in real terms).

This translates that Malawi Government could earn not less than US$300 million per year at peak production. Under optimistic assumptions, these six projects would represent approximately 17 percent of general government fiscal revenues in 2036 (at current rates), less than is currently needed to fill the budget deficit or service the public debt.

As part of its OGP National Action Plan (2023–2025), the Government of Malawi commits to developing a Sovereign Wealth Fund. Before embarking on this journey, the OGP Taskforce thought it wise to first conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of such a SWF.

The report says as major mining projects advance and new investors show interest, Malawi has a window of opportunity to get its policies right. The insights and consensus built during the consultations will inform a sustainable, inclusive approach to resource management that can serve the nation for generations to come.

Scores of people including journalists paid their last respect to veteran journalist Francis Tayanja Phiri as he was laid to rest on Tuesday, January 27, at Stella Maris Cemetery in Blantyre. Tayanja, a renowned journalist specialized in feature writing died on Sunday, January 25, at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre after battling with high blood pressure and diabetes.

He worked with a number of media houses including Blantyre Newspapers, Nation Publications and recently Mining Review Publications as our Southern Region Correspondent.  

Weekend Nation Editor Steve Nhlane, who had worked with him at Malawi News Agency, Times group as well as Nation Publications Limited described the deceased as resourceful besides being humble.

Nhlane, who also worked with Tayanja at the defunct Star newspaper, appealed to the current generation of journalists to emulate his life style and professionalism.

"I started working with Tayanja in the early 1980s and I worked with him at Times group and Nation. One thing that made him special is his passion to read books which reflected in his work," he said.

Mining Review Publications Publishing Editor Marcel Chimwala said he was at a loss for words on the sudden demise of Tayanjeh saying the media fraternity has lost a creative force. Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chairperson Golden Matonga said Tayanjah will be remembered for mentoring many up-and-coming journalist in many years of dedication to journalism.

“He was one of the finest newspaper feature writers in Malawi. MISA Malawi and the entire media fraternity in Malawi will dearly miss him,” he said.

Born in 1967, Tayanja hailed from Salima District and is survived by three children.

As the new administration has completed its first 100 days in office, stakeholders in the minerals sector have acknowledged early positive policy signals in the sector while questioning the absence of concrete reforms, particularly in governance, community protection and Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASMs).

Civil Society Organasations working in the sector say the administration has taken a cautious approach, marked more by continuity than decisive reform.

National Coordinator for Natural Resources Jusctice Network (NRJN) Kennedy Rashid, said the government’s performance during the period has been moderate, with limited tangible outcomes.

“The government’s performance during the first 100 days has been moderate but largely cautious. While public messaging has highlighted the importance of mining to economic recovery, tangible outcomes remain limited,” Rashid said.

He said positive signals such as the directive on value addition to minerals have yet to translate into visible actions that improve mining governance, accountability or community outcomes.

Rashid observed that few structural changes have been implemented to restore public confidence, particularly in addressing unlicensed and unregulated ASM activities that continue to affect communities.

He explained that early government statements on investor confidence and the ban on raw mineral exports suggest intent, but deeper reforms remain absent. He cited limited progress on beneficiation frameworks, fair taxation, public disclosure of mining contracts, beneficial ownership transparency and systematic publication of mineral revenue data.

“We have not seen decisive reforms on contract transparency or public disclosure of mining agreements, despite the existence of annual EITI reports,” Rashid said.

He said oversight institutions such as the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) and the Malawi Mining and Mineral Resources Regulatory Authority (MMRA) continue to operate with limited public information-sharing, noting that transparency requires enforceable systems rather than declarations.

For mining-affected communities, Rashid said daily realities remain unchanged, with continued land displacement, environmental degradation, inadequate compensation and weak consultation processes, especially in areas impacted by informal ASM activities.

“There has been no clear improvement in grievance redress mechanisms or community participation, leaving communities excluded from decision-making and disconnected from the promised benefits of mineral extraction,” he said.

Rashid described the absence of a clear reform roadmap within the first 100 days as a missed opportunity saying the government could have outlined timelines for beneficiation, green minerals development, contract review and stronger environmental enforcement.

He called for the immediate publication of mining contracts, licences and revenues, increased state investment through Malawi Mining Investment Company (MAMICO), protection of community rights and the development of a national green minerals’ strategy.

Concerns are more pronounced among ASMs who say recent policy decisions have worsened conditions in the subsector. Percy Maleta, President of the Federation of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Malawi (FASMIM), said the ban on the export of raw minerals has had a direct and negative impact on ASM operations, which depend heavily on export markets. “While we welcome the consultations now taking place around export regulations, these should have come before imposing a ban, not after,” Maleta said.

He said access to licences has deteriorated following the suspension of ASM licence issuance and renewal without clear communication. Maleta added that markets remain constrained, noting that the Export Development Fund focuses mainly on gold and top-grade gemstones, leaving the bulk of ASM production without a structured market.

“The ASM subsector is currently in a worse position than at any other time in the history of gemstone mining and trading in Malawi,” he said.

FASMIM has called for the urgent lifting of the export ban, decentralisation of ASM licensing, technical and equipment support through MAMICO, improved gold purchasing mechanisms and a more human-centred approach to mining policy.

From a development and private-sector perspective, ActionAid Malawi says the government has shown goodwill, but policy gaps remain. In an interview, Project Officer for the Climate Just Transition for Mining-Affected Communities Project at ActionAid Malawi, Charles Finis Phiri, said the government has taken steps to strengthen the legal, regulatory and institutional framework of the mining sector.

“The government has empowered the Ministry of Mining and strengthened the Mining and Mineral Resources Regulatory Authority, which is likely to inspire investor confidence,” Phiri said. However, he said early actions have created both opportunities and uncertainties, particularly for artisanal miners affected by the raw mineral export ban, while beneficiation and formalisation efforts remain slow.

Phiri said processing minerals locally could maximise revenue, foster industrialisation, create jobs and support the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund. He added that coordination gaps persist, especially around community participation, calling for amendments to extend Community Development Agreements to medium-scale operations and strengthen the role of local councils and traditional leaders.

He said the mining sector has the potential to increase its contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) beyond one percent if supported by investment in beneficiation, institutional capacity building, transparency in licensing and revenue management, local participation and infrastructure development.

From a youth and academic perspective, some progress has been acknowledged, particularly in stakeholder engagement and skills development.

Ezala Banda, a mining student at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) and a member of the Future Miners Network, said government-led sensitisation meetings involving senior officials have helped improve understanding of mining laws, safety and sustainability among community leaders and local stakeholders. “These engagements help communities and youths understand how mining should be done legally and safely,” Banda said.

He said the government’s emphasis on value addition positions mining as a pillar of the Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) strategy, with potential to create jobs and boost national revenue. However, he noted that youth inclusion remains limited, with few practical entry points beyond formal education, and that internships and employment opportunities remain scarce.

Globally, mining remains a capital-intensive sector whose developmental impact depends on strong institutions, effective regulation, value addition and inclusive benefit-sharing. Countries that align mineral extraction with industrial policy, skills development and community participation tend to achieve broader economic gains, while weak governance often limits the sector’s contribution to sustainable growth.

ASX-listed Globe Metals & Mining, which is pursuing the Kanyika Niobium Project in Mzimba, has announced that the mine’s first production of saleable oxide is planned for January 2028.

The Kanyika Niobium Project is set to become the first major non-Brazilian niobium producer in more than fifty years.

Globe says in its end of the year update that its updated Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) is on track for completion by March 31, 2026, laying the technical and economic groundwork for Final Investment Decision (FID), funding, offtake agreements and the mobilisation of construction.

“In the coming year, we expect Kanyika will evolve from a fully permitted plan into a construction-ready, internationally strategic critical-minerals asset,” reads the update.

Globe Metals Interim CEO & CFO Charles Altshuler explains in the update that Kanyika has been designed for phased development, enabling an efficient, lower-risk path to first production while allowing the market to absorb early volumes and support future expansion.

The first phase is designed to deliver roughly one-third of full-scale processing capacity, supported by a solar–diesel hybrid power solution.

“First production of saleable oxide is planned for January 2028, thereby meeting the requirement for an exportable saleable product by March 2028, in accordance with the Mining Licence and the Mine Development Agreement, which require this milestone to be achieved within five years of issuance.

” Phase Two, planned for April 2029, aims to scale the operation to production of 3,000–3,300 tonnes of niobium pentoxide and 150–160 tonnes of tantalum pentoxide annually.

Globe says this staged approach reduces upfront capital risk, accelerates cash flow, and aligns its expansion with customer qualification and long-term market demand.

The Company will develop the Kanyika Project as a conventional open-pit operation with a low strip ratio. Ore will be mined and crushed on site to a suitable size for processing, eliminating the need to transport run-of-mine material off site and ensuring value addition begins at the mine.

Crushed ore will be processed through an on-site beneficiation circuit using established physical separation techniques to concentrate the niobium and tantalum minerals. This removes most waste material at site, significantly reducing mass before further processing. The upgraded concentrate will then be treated in an on-site hydrometallurgical plant using proven, industry-standard technology to produce saleable niobium oxide (Nb?O?) and tantalum oxide (Ta?O?).

”The processing route is well understood and commercially proven,”  Altshuler says. Final products will be packaged on site and containerised for transport. Only finished niobium and tantalum oxide products are exported, and these materials are non-radioactive.

Globe stresses that no radioactive ore, concentrate, or waste material is transported off site. It says producing a high-value, low-volume product at the mine gate avoids bulk transport and allows efficient export using existing road and port infrastructure, enabling near term logistics readiness without reliance on rail megaprojects.

Global markets and supply

Global niobium supply remains critically constrained, with more than 90% sourced from a single Brazilian producer, leaving the west 100% reliant on imports. Demand continues to surge, driven by aerospace, defence, hypersonic platforms, superconductivity, batteries and advanced manufacturing.

Kanyika is poised to emerge as one of the few new suppliers of high-purity niobium oxide, integral to support global markets in national-security and advanced technology supply chains. Altshuler explains that the mine–concentrator– refinery integration inside Malawi is a key strategic advantage, enabling Globe to supply high-purity Nb?O? instead of ferroniobium, thus meeting the needs of end-users requiring full traceability, ESG compliance and conflict-free provenance.

“Globe is entering the new year with a clear path to construction, strengthened financial capacity, solid government and community partnerships, and an international relevant project capable of reshaping niobium supply chains outside Brazil. Kanyika stands to become the first major new niobium pentoxide producer in fifty years, playing a critical role in the future of aerospace, defence, clean energy and advanced manufacturing,” he says.

The Malawi Government has opted for engagement meetings with stakeholders across the country including small scale mining communities in order to address the proliferation of illegal mining.

Illegal mining, mainly by Artisanal and Small-scale miners targeting gold and gemstones, has become rife in the country with miners using unsustainable mining practices that is resulting in serious environmental degradation in several Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) hotspots.

The illegal ASM practices has mainly affected districts such as Kasungu, Lilongwe, Nkhotakota, Zomba, Chiradzulu, Balaka, Machinga, Phalombe, Nkhata Bay, Karonga.

The miners are mainly using unsafe mining practices, which have resulted in fatal accidents leading to deaths with the latest fatalities reported in Kasungu where a dozen of ASMs have perished.

In an effort to address the worrying situation, the Malawi Mining and Mineral Resources Regulatory Authority (MMRA) in collaboration with the Department of Mines organized sensitization and consultative meeting at Sun and Sand in Mangochi, which attracted participants from Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Zomba, and Phalombe.

The meeting which attracted District Council members and traditional leaders discussed strategies to curb illegal and unsafe mining and promote responsible mining practices in the Southern Region.

The Southern Region meeting came after the Ministry had conducted similar meetings in Northern and Central Regions.

Speaking during the meetings, Director of Administration in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Andrew Chisamba highlighted that the engagement was prompted by a series of mining-related accidents that have occurred across the country, resulting in the loss of lives.

“What prompted these consultative meetings are accidents that have occurred so far in the country and the lives that have been lost in the process, all due to illegal and unsafe mining. As a department, we felt we could not just sit back but take action, starting with consultative meetings with key stakeholders at district level,” said Chisamba.

MMRA Director General Mphatso Chikoti emphasized that traditional leaders and district structures play a critical role in identifying illegal mining activities and promoting safe and lawful mining practices within their communities.

Paramount Chief Chiikulamayembe appealed to MMRA and the Department of Mines to maintain the engagement model, noting that involving chiefs and local leadership enhances community awareness, compliance, and collective responsibility in addressing illegal and unsafe mining.

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Honourable Dr Jean Mathanga MP has assured the World Bank Group that the government is committed to ensuring that both mining and energy sectors are working for the benefit of the people.

Speaking during the meeting with the World Bank group officials, Dr Mathanga said the two sectors are the lifeline of the Malawi economy, hence she is working tirelessly to improve their efficiency in the best interest of Malawians.

She said: “Energy is topping Malawi's agenda, knowing that no manufacturing can take place without its sufficiency. Today, I am happy that the World Bank has committed to helping us raise funds so we can have more money to improve the sector.”

“World Bank will share Malawi's story with other development partners who can help Malawi improve the sector. On Mining, World Bank will help us with technical support so that it is more organised than now, though we are doing more but not enough.”

Dr Mathanga commended the World Bank for its significant support in improving the energy sector through financing large projects like Malawi's Mpatamanga Hydropower.

The delegation that was led by World Bank’s Practice Manager Energy Eastern and Southern Africa Yadviga Semikolenova and World Bank Country Manager for Malawi Firas Raad encouraged Malawi to make use of Mission 300, which aims to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030 through African leadership, increased funding, and accelerated partnerships.

Mission 300 is a collaborative initiative led by the World Bank Group (WBG) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, aiming to boost development through grid and off-grid solutions, attract private investment, improve energy infrastructure, and support clean cooking.

“We are ready to ensure that Malawi has sufficient energy that is needed to everyone. What I can say is that Malawi has done better in the energy sector, and you need to work hard for this to continue. As I said World Bank will support Malawi in many ways, including telling good stories to other partners,” said Semikolenova.

On his part, Raad said the support for the energy sector demonstrates the bank's commitment to help the country's policies in the sector, saying the bank is also ready to bring sanity in the Mining sector by bringing technical support, among others.

He said, “World Bank will continue supporting Malawi's energy and mining sectors, to boost clean energy and grid capacity, while also providing diagnostics and recommendations for sustainable mining growth, focusing on better governance and leveraging mineral potential, addressing skills gaps, and enhancing economic development through reliable power and resource management.

In a related development, the Norwegian Embassy delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Honourable Dr Mathanga MP The delegation was led by Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Anne Sofie Bjelland, and Nina Camilla Lande, First Secretary, Agriculture, Food security, Climate change and Environment.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr Mathanga said Norway and Malawi share a strong, long-term partnership focusing on development, with Norway aiming to build Malawi's capacity and improve citizens' lives.

The Minister said Norway has been providing significant support to Malawi in the environment and energy sectors, primarily focusing on clean, reliable hydropower and renewable initiatives and in the mining sector, Norway’s support primarily focuses on improving governance, transparency, and regulation.

- Department of Mines -