Modern Mining October 2025

The tailings storage facility and plant in the mist.

A plaque of the project.

President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera cutting the ribbon.

to produce our own acid, we will recommission the acid plant in early 2026. The drying and packaging area has undergone substantial changes following the introduction of a calciner to produce a calcined product with reduced moisture content, which makes it more efficient to transport and is a product that is preferred by our customers.” Community upliftment The restart of the Kayelekera mine contributes to Malawi’s growth trajectory, with the project scheduled to employ around 600 people from the host community during steady state production. “The government of Malawi has been extremely supportive in the process to restart the Kayelekera project, which is the largest and only commercial mining operation in the country. Apart from artisanal mining, a few alluvial gold prospects, and a small thermal coal mine producing around 100 000 tons per annum, Kayelekera is the only significant mine in the country and the only uranium operation in Malawi.” According to Bittar, Kayelekera has the potential to generate national income equivalent to that of the tobacco industry, which until recently was the largest income generating industry for the government. The Government of Malawi has a 15% stake in the project and a 5% government royalty. The company has also recently signed a community development agreement, allocating 0.45% of Kayelekera’s revenue to a Community Steering Committee, who will determine how the funds will benefit the surrounding communities. “From a long list of identified projects, the community and its leaders determine which projects get the green light. Apart from investing in the development of healthcare facilities including clinics, we have funded upgrades to schools and invested in hiring more than half a dozen teachers.”

“The owner-operator mining model offers enhanced control over mining production and ROM management as well as potential strategic synergies, particularly in relation to ongoing tailings storage facility construction, road maintenance and other cost efficiencies.” Plant upgrades Discussing plant improvements undertaken ahead of getting the project into production, Bittar explains that as the project had been on care and maintenance for the past decade, the entire plant was fully refurbished, and significant upgrades were made to the packaging and drying area. “Although we employed the original process flowsheet, we refurbished the SAG mill, leaching, precipitation and elution areas, upgraded the onsite power system and we are rebuilding the acid plant. Initially, the plan is to import sulfuric acid but as it is economically and logistically more convenient

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