Mining & Trade News

ASX-listed Globe Metals & Mining has announced that construction has officially begun at its Kanyika Niobium Project in Mzimba following the signing of a binding Pre-Development Collaboration Agreement with Sinomine International (Zambia) Engineering, a subsidiary of Sinomine Resource Group under the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) approach.

The development marks an important transition for Globe from feasibility and permitting into active project execution. Mobilisation and early works are set to commence in alignment with the Company’s updated Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) targeted for March 2026 and first oxide production is anticipated in the first quarter of 2028.

Charles Altshuler, Interim CEO & CFO of Globe Metals & Mining explains that the commencement of early works is consistent with Globe’s obligations under its Mining Development Agreement and Large-Scale Mining Licence, which require the Company to demonstrate substantive on-ground development activity within defined timeframes.

Altshuler comments: “For Globe, this marks a clear transition from planning to execution. Kanyika is a fully permitted and engineered project now entering the construction phase. “

“The commencement of early works represents the culmination of years of technical research, permitting and community engagement, transforming into physical progress on site, including access infrastructure, earthworks and site establishment.”

“The Agreement with Sinomine allows us to proceed methodically on pre- development, validating construction and operational cost inputs for the Bankable Feasibility Study and advancing downstream oxide qualification work, while retaining full ownership, control over the Project.”

“Importantly, the Agreement is structured on a cost-reimbursable basis with a fixed management fee. This ensures capital discipline as we leverage Sinomine’s expertise and experience for the project’s progression toward full construction and first oxide production.”

He says Globe is pleased to be working with Sinomine on the Kanyika Niobium Project given their extensive experience delivering mining and processing projects across Africa, including complex construction environments requiring the mobilisation of multidisciplinary on-site teams.

“Sinomine brings deep operational capability in the development and processing of critical minerals, including lithium, copper and caesium, and has a proven track record in executing technically demanding projects from early works through to production including power and road infrastructure. This experience provides Globe with confidence that the Project’s early works and Early Contractor Involvement activities will be executed efficiently, safely and in a manner aligned with regional operating conditions and global best practice,” says Altshuler.

Contract terms

The initial construction activities comprise access-road upgrades, bulk earthworks, drainage and stormwater controls, fencing and site security, water infrastructure, and establishment of the construction camp.

Sinomine will undertake defined pre-development and early works, provide costed inputs and execution data for the Bankable Feasibility Study, and produce refinery grade niobium and tantalum oxide samples from Kanyika material obtained during the early works, land clearing activities for qualification and downstream assessment by Globe.

The Agreement is structured as a cost-reimbursable development services arrangement, under which Globe reimburses Sinomine for verified and certified direct costs incurred in performing the agreed scope of work and pays a fixed monthly management fee of USD 20,000 for project management and operational services. No success fees, margins, equity interests, offtake rights, royalties or contingent consideration apply under the Agreement.

Globe retains 100% legal and beneficial ownership, control and decision-making authority in respect of the Project.

Early Contractor Involvement (ECI)

Under the Agreement, Sinomine is required to deploy experienced project, construction and processing personnel with relevant African operating experience to support refinement of the Project scope, plant layout, construction methodology and execution sequencing. This enables Globe to confirm that the BFS configuration is constructible, schedule-aligned and appropriate for regional logistical, labour and climatic conditions, while identifying and mitigating execution risks and potential bottlenecks prior to final investment decision.

The Agreement further requires Sinomine to provide detailed cost validation, supplier pricing, equipment specifications and procurement inputs to support optimisation of capital and operating costs within the BFS. Early engagement with equipment vendors and service providers under the ECI framework improves supply-chain visibility, supports competitive tendering and allows bulk-procurement and logistics efficiencies to be incorporated into the Project design.

Globe has elected to commence defined early works in advance of the milestones of the Bankable Feasibility Study and formal Final Investment Decision under an Early Contractor Involvement framework. This approach is consistent with the Company’s previously announced development strategy and is designed to validate construction methodologies, logistics, scheduling and cost inputs through on-site execution, rather than desktop analysis alone.

Sinomine International (Zambia) Engineering Company is currently constructing the Kitumba Copper Mine in Zambia and therefore brings direct, recent construction and execution experience in Southern Africa, including familiarity with local contractors, logistics, regulatory frameworks and operating conditions.

The company is a subsidiary of Sinomine Resource Group, a publicly listed, global mining and resource development group specialising in copper, lithium, and rare and light minerals (including caesium and rubidium) for new energy and industrial sectors, with operating assets and project experience across Africa, Asia and North America.

Sinomine has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and supply-chain decarbonisation across its operations. This includes the implementation of the Bikita Mine Solar PV Project in Zimbabwe, which has reduced annual carbon emissions by more than 20,000 metric tonnes and established a benchmark for renewable energy integration in large-scale African mining operations.

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