By Brenda Kayo:
Parliament has ordered a fresh investigation into the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Balaka following concerns over the mine’s licensing, regulatory compliance and the export of mineral samples outside Malawi.
Speaker of the National Assembly Sameer Suleman directed relevant parliamentary committees to investigate the operations after members of Parliament raised questions over activities at the Australian-owned mining project.
The development has placed the Kangankunde project under renewed scrutiny, with lawmakers demanding clarity on whether the mine is operating within the country’s mining laws and whether mineral samples have been exported through proper procedures.
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Lilongwe Nyanja legislator Steve Baba Malondera called for the suspension of operations at the site, alleging that the company was engaging in illegal mining and operating without a valid licence.
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Malondera said Parliament needed to establish the factssurrounding the project and ensure that Malawi’s mineral resources were being exploited in accordance with the law.
However, Minister of Mining Thoko Tembo rejected the allegations, telling Parliament that the government inspections had not found evidence of illegal mining or unauthorised exportation of mineral samples from the site.
Tembo said the samples that had been exported were approved by the relevant authorities for testing and laboratory analysis, arguing that the process was part of the technical work required in the development of the rare earths project.
He said the government had been monitoring the project through inspections involving the Ministry of Mining, the Malawi Mining Regulatory Authority and other relevant government agencies.
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Tembo said the inspections were intended to ensure that the company complied with the country’s mining laws, regulations and other requirements governing mineral exploration and development.
He also welcomed the Speaker’s directive for Parliament to conduct its own investigation, saying the government had nothing to hide and was ready to cooperate with lawmakers.
“If the Speaker sees it fit for parliamentarians to go out and look into the mining sector, that is what we welcome as well, and we will be more than happy to incorporate,” Tembo said.
He said the involvement of Parliament could provide an opportunity for lawmakers to independently assess activities at the mine and establish whether concerns raised by legislators were supported by evidence.
The fresh probe comes as Malawi seeks to attract investment into its emerging mining sector while at the same time strengthening oversight of the country’s mineral resources.
The Kangankunde Rare Earths Project is owned by Australian company Lindian Resources and is considered one of Malawi’s significant emerging rare earths developments.
The project involves rare earth elements, including dysprosium and terbium, which are considered important minerals for modern technologies. Such minerals are used in products and technologies including electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and other high-tech applications.
The project has, therefore, attracted interest because of the potential economic value of rare earth elements and their growing importance globally.
However, the latest parliamentary concerns could intensify calls for greater transparency around licensing, mineral sampling, exports and regulatory oversight.
