By Mcloyd Chilangiza:
Sovereign Metals Limited, owners of the Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project, has announced the discovery of high-value heavy rare earth minerals in addition to rutile and graphite deposits.
According to a report published on the company’s website, mineral test work confirmed the availability of dysprosium, terbium and yttrium.
Dysprosium and terbium are used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and defense technologies while yttrium is critical in semiconductor production, radar systems, and aerospace manufacturing.
The report says Kasiya’s heavy rare earth content exceeds that of the world’s top five rare earth producers, with dysprosium-terbium ratios averaging 2.5 percent compared to the global average of 0.4 percent.
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This means that Kasiya’s deposits contain higher concentrations of valuable heavy rare earth minerals than most leading global producers, according to the report.
Sovereign Metals Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Frank Eagar said the findings confirmed that the minerals are present in areas expected to be mined during the early stages of the project.
Edgar also said the minerals could potentially be recovered from waste material already produced during mining which means that additional mining may not be necessary.
“These results confirm that the monazite-hosted rare earth content first reported in January 2026 is present in pits scheduled for the early years of production at Kasiya,” he said.
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Commenting, geoscientist Ignatius Kamwanje said the discovery would increase Malawi’s strategic importance in the global critical minerals industry.
Kamwanje urged the government to promote local participation in mining ventures, mineral beneficiation and refining within Malawi to maximise economic returns.
“The discovery means the profile and portfolio for rare earths in Malawi shall be expanded, thereby drastically increasing the country’s strategic and economic value,” he added.
Mining policy expert Paul Mvula warned that Malawi risks falling into the resource curse, if the country fails to root out corruption and powerful cartels within the sector.
An independent pricing report estimated that Kasiya’s monazite concentrate could fetch between $16,000 and $19,000 per tonne, compared to the current benchmark market price of about $6,142 per tonne.
Phase one construction of the Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project is expected to begin in mid-2027, with mineral extraction and production projected to commence in 2029.
A definitive feasibility study for the project revealed that the company is expected to generate about $16.2 billion (approximately K28.37 trillion) over the mine’s 25-year lifespan.
