Mining & Trade News

An environmental activist Godfrey Mfiti has asked ASX-listed Chilwa Minerals, which is prospecting for heavy mineral sands in Lake Chilwa, and the Malawi Government to advance the project with caution in order to protect the environment.

Lake Chilwa Wetland is part of the Tentative list of Malawi in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List.

The Wetland is important for its waterfowl population. The lake has no outlet, and the level of water is greatly affected by seasonal rains and summer evaporation. It is also used extensively for fishing and bird hunting by the local communities as the Wetland Biosphere Reserve is home to one of the world’s most diverse populations of bird species.    

Mfiti, an environmental policy analyst, says in an interview with Mining & Trade Review that there is need for proper environmental management in executing the mineral prospecting project in such an environmentally sensitive area.

“It is important to balance development and conservation in sustainable ventures like Lake Chilwa project,” he says.

He points out that one main challenge in mining projects is decommissioning, whereby miners leave the mining location neglecting environmental rehabilitation.

“We are aware that Lake Chilwa is heavily hit by climate change and environmental degradation whereby the area along Domasi and Matandani Rivers lost several dykes during Cyclone Freddy induced floods. Therefore, if this project is not handled properly, it will in the long-run heavily impact on the communities in Traditional Authority Kuntumanje in Zomba who are already at the receiving end of the negative effects of the project,” says Mfiti.

He suggests that as the project is progressing, stakeholders including the investor Chilwa Minerals should work closely with environmental specialists, policy holders and local authorities to ensure that it is conducted with utmost respect to Environmental Management Act of 2017 and community well-being.

Meanwhile, Chilwa Minerals has appointed Light Deep Earth (LDE), a South African-based company, to conduct metallurgical test work on samples extracted from the Mposa Deposit, located within the wider Lake Chilwa Project.

Chilwa Minerals MD Cadell Buss says in a statement that the metallurgical test work will be overseen by leading Perth based Mineral Sands Consulting firm TZMI, which previously completed work on the 2015 Lake Chilwa Scoping Study for the former owners of the project.

Buss says the primary goal of this testing phase is to validate and enhance the findings of previous studies.

“The focus of the metallurgical test work is to confirm previous results as well as identify optimisation improvements. Rather than stopping at the production of a mineral sands concentrate, the test work will assess the potential to produce individual mineral sands products,” says Buss.

He says samples from an ongoing drilling program will be delivered to the LDE laboratory in the upcoming weeks, with testing anticipated to take approximately three months.

“The results are expected to be disclosed approximately one month after the completion of the testing phase,” says Buss.

He explains that the commencement of the metallurgical test work marks another step forward in the company’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of the Lake Chilwa Heavy Mineral Sands Project. 

“The current metallurgical testing phase is a critical milestone that offers valuable insights into the deposit’s potential, promising to provide a foundation that guides the project’s future path,” says Buss

The Malawi Government is implementing a strategy to develop agriculture, mining and tourism sectors hence encourages resource firms to put in place measures to conserve the environment and attract tourists while pursuing the minerals.

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