Mining & Trade News

Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara says the Malawi Government is planning to introduce electric locomotives to replace the diesel-powered trains.

Hara said the development will help reduce reliance on traditional diesel-powered engines as it is proven that in the long term it is much cheaper to use electricity than diesel.

The Minister said this when he addressed the Malawi Mining Investment Forum in Lilongwe where he emphasized that Government is in the process of developing the country’s transport network in order to facilitate development of the key economic sectors namely agriculture, mining and tourism.

 “We will be starting this big project this year probably in three months’ time. We are currently working on our first stage of the Beira corridor connection, our plan is to electrify the line once we hit Nsanje all the way to Blantyre then through Lilongwe and connecting to Zambia,” he said.

Hara emphasized the crucial role of an efficient transport system in facilitating the movement of materials and supplies essential for mining operations.

“The transport sector is the number one enabler for national development, this is why in this fiscal year’s budget we have incorporated funds for very specific projects including those in mining areas,” he said.

On water transport, Hara said the Tanzara corridor will be revitalized to connect it to Chilumba which will help to boost water transport to Chipoka.

“We want to bring back life to Chipoka as we plan to make it one of the biggest ports in the region,” said Hara.

Besides water and rail transport, the Minister also said Government is in the process of upgrading the road network across the country.

He, however, spelt out the need for collaboration between mining companies, the Ministry of Mining and the Ministry of Transport to come up with plans that can benefit the two sectors.

Hara said: “We need to address the mentality that the government owe us good roads. Everyone should be responsible for providing the good roads through the road tolls and we can have special arrangements with the mining companies focusing on maintaining the roads that they use frequently.”

“Malawi’s decision to join the Central Corridor Transport Facilitation Agency shows the government’s determination to address challenges in the mining sector and elevate transportation infrastructure to new heights.”

“With ambitious plans to revitalize rail networks and enhance road connectivity, Malawi is heading to the new era of economic growth and development for the betterment of its citizens and the broader international community.”

Private sector players in the minerals sector have urged the Malawi Government to address a myriad of challenges dogging development of mining projects in the country in order for the sector to adequately contribute to the country’s economic development.

The resource firms tabled their concerns to State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera in Lilongwe when he officially opened the first ever Malawi Mining Investment Forum that was held from April 23 to 24.

Chairman of Malawi’s leading mining and mineral consulting group Akatswiri Holdings Hilton Banda, who made a keynote presentation on behalf of the private sector captains in the sector at the Forum, said the major challenges private investors are encountering in the sector include delays by the government to conclude Mine Development Agreements (MDAs) for projects, which is frustrating investors.

Banda told the President that the other challenges include inadequate transportation and energy infrastructure which increases operational costs, shortage of skilled labor and technical expertise, local market volatility and price fluctuations which affect profitability, and illegal mining activities that are undermining formal sector operations and revenue collection efforts.

“This is a young sector, and its challenges are enormous, and therefore, we will continue to count on Government’s support to realize the full potential of this most promising sector,” said Banda, hinting that with current projects’ projection, mining will be contributing more that 10% to Malawi’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030.

He also made recommendations to the President to encourage Malawians to invest in mining and its value chain, facilitate financing for mining projects by collaborating with financial institutions, and simplify bureaucratic procedures for acquiring licenses and signing agreements to avoid delays.

The mineral sector executive also advised government to study taxation models of successful mining countries and establish a competitive tax rate to attract investment, increase the capacity of energy generation for value addition, establish a mining culture among Malawians by including lessons on mining in primary and secondary schools, and establish analytical laboratories for geosciences in the country.

“Sustainable development of the mineral sectors in Africa, among others, depends on sound and comprehensive mining policy, fiscal regimes and legislative frameworks, which take into account prevailing international best practices, attract investment and enables the citizenry across the continent to realize optimal benefits from mining,” he said.

In his speech marking the official opening of the forum, Chakwera hailed the holding of the event saying it will help to answer some of the questions to challenges being experienced in the sector.

Chakwera also said the forum is a platform where players in the sector can network, learn, experience and unlock various opportunities.  

He said: “Today we are talking of precious minerals that God blessed us with. Today we have known that apart from farming, our soils have precious minerals that are on high demand across the world.”

“Today the question should be, having all these precious minerals in our soils why Malawi still remains poor. These questions must be answered through this mining investment forum in order to correct where the problem generates.”

“My idea in coming up with Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) week is to ensure that there is collaborative effort in alleviating challenges affecting our economy.”

Chakwera stressed that ignorance and negligence are the main challenges killing the mining sector as many Malawians are not aware of the mineral wealth lying across their land and also that some are conducting the mining business unlawfully.

He said: “Firstly, ignorance is the main cause why as a nation we are not benefiting much from our mineral resources.  Many of us we just walk on our land not knowing what is inside our land.”

“Secondly, is negligence whereby everyone just does whatever he or she wants. As a nation, we need to set up governing bodies and organizations to ensure security of the minerals and local beneficiation.”

“For that reason, my Government established the mining authority to review all mining development agreements in order to negotiate a win – win deal.”

“Even in Mangochi where people including foreigners were just mining gold unlawfully, I sent MDF (Malawi Defense Force) team to bring sanity and order so that they all mine according to the law and develop our economy.”

Chakwera also said his government is working to ensure that ASMs get access to loans from the banks to develop their businesses.

In her speech, Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno said the forum is a shared vision to unlock the immense potential of the nation’s mining sector and pave the way for sustainable growth and development.

Chang’anamuno said the presence of key players in the sector including the President is a testament to government’s dedication to the advancement of the country’s mining industry.

She said: “The opportunities that lie before us are vast, and the challenges we face are significant. However, I am confident that through collaboration, innovation, and a shared sense of purpose, we can overcome these hurdles and unlock the full potential of our mining sector for the benefit of all Malawians.”

“This forum serves as a platform for dialogue, exchange of ideas, and forging partnerships that will drive sustainable investment and growth in our mining industry.”

“It is an opportunity for us to showcase the rich mineral wealth of our country, highlight the investment opportunities available, and demonstrate our commitment to responsible and inclusive mining practices.”

Chang’anamuno urged stakeholders in the sector to work together to leverage mineral resources, build capacity, and create a conducive environment for investment that will generate long-term benefits for the nation and its people.

The Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA) has expressed concern over low access to electricity in some countries in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.

RERA Executive Director Elijah Sichone raised the concern when the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) in conjunction with RERA held a series of meetings in Lilongwe aimed at advocating for access to electricity in SADC.

RERA is a formal association of independent energy regulators whose establishment was approved by SADC Ministers responsible for Energy in Maseru, Lesotho, on July 12, 2002.

RERA Executive Director Elijah Sichone said that it is important for the region is to address the issue of low access to electricity and also ensure power utilities are given cost reflective tariffs.

Sichone said: “As RERA we want to contribute to address the issues of access to electricity and one of them is to make sure that utilities such as ESCOM are given tariffs that are cost reflective, tariffs that will enable them to invest in expanding access.”

“We understand that expanding the grid to all parts of the nation is expensive, and as RERA we use our mentions to ensure that the whole population has access to electricity, and one of the mentions is mini grid.”

“This means having those areas without access to main grid having what we called solar home systems where you install solar systems to those houses at a fee to expand the access to electricity.”

Sichome, however, said it is encouraging that despite several countries in the region including Malawi having low access to electricity, some countries have managed 100% access

He said: “Access to electricity in the SADC region varies. We have member states in the SADC region who have done very well having access of 100% and we have other members who have not done very well in terms of access with very low figures.”

“We have Ireland countries like Mauritians and Seychelles having 100% access to electricity and also inland countries like Malawi having very low access to electricity. But general in the region we are at the order of 50% access to electricity,” he said.

In her remarks, MERA Consumer Affairs and Public Relations Manager, Fitina Khonje lauded the meetings saying they will provide a platform for in-depth discussions on recent regulatory and energy sector developments.

The meetings focused on on economic and technical regulation of the electricity, fuel and gas sectors, consumer services and communication, finance and audit, legal and legislative as well as human resource matters within the SADC energy regulation industry.

Khonje said: “These annual meetings are important because regional cooperation is not just for energy sector or regional interconnectors but for us to share information, experience on how we can regulate the energy sector.”

“Our role is to ensure that we balance appropriately the interests of operator and consumers. Operators should be able to run efficiently and consumers should have liability of supplies.”

“Though we are trailing in terms of access to electricity, the country is making progress in making sure that the population is connected to electricity.”

“For example the Malawi Energy Access Project (MEAP) has helped ESCOM to offload some of the back lops it has had in terms of connecting customers to electricity.”

Among others, RERA is mandated to facilitate a regional energy market that is efficient, integrated, harmonized, sustainable and investment friendly; develop and enhance the capacity of regulators; promote universal access to modern, clean, reliable, quality, and affordable energy services.

Apart from Malawi, other RERA member regulators are from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe

ASX-Listed resources group DY6 Metals says it has completed its initial geophysical and geochemical exploration programmes at its Salambidwe Rare Earth Exploration and niobium prospect in Chikwawa.

The exploration programmes included an airborne geophysical survey on Salambidwe, which is a virgin rare earth prospect with limited previous exploration, that was launched by Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno.

CEO for DY6 Lloyd Kaiser reports that his company has received assay results for the grid-based soil and rock chip sampling, and results from the 128 soil and 386 rock chips expand the known area of anomalous responses.

Kaiser says in a statement that maximum values from separate rock chip samples were 1.21% total rare earths (TREO) and 0.12% Nb2O5 (Niobium Oxide).

He says the 45-line kilometre airborne geophysical program confirmed the highly concentric nature of the intrusive complex.

“DY6 is assessing the combined geochemical and geophysical data to refine targets prior to a maiden drill program,” Kaiser says.

DY6 undertook ground-based grid controlled geochemical sampling to confirm historical exploration results of previous holder of the tenement Globe Metals & Mining and to expand the footprint of anomalous responses.

Previous activity had not closed off the anomalous zones, nor had airborne geophysical surveys covered the area due to its proximity to the border with Mozambique. Globe completed a sampling and ground radiometric survey over part of the central ring complex area of the intrusion outlining several zones of strongly anomalous TREO and Nb responses, numerous zones extended to the limits of the sampling.

Kaiser explains that DY6’s sampling was specifically aimed at either extending or closing off these anomalous zones to the northern and western part of the licence

He says the area of the historical sampling was not resampled, but several traverses were made across the outlined anomalous areas to ensure consistency and coherency of results.

Kaiser explains that absolute values obtained from the DY6 exploration appear to be slightly lower in tenor than the historical data; which is interpreted that this is due to the majority of the DY6 sampling being peripheral to the historical sampling and extending away from the central anomalous area.

DY6 detailed sampling expanded the anomalous areas on 100m x 100m spacing and the more regional and confirmatory sampling was at 100m intervals along lines 500m apart.

Nb2O5 results also extended the anomalous areas tended both zones, though their extent is more limited than the TREO. The western zone is approximately 1,700m long (including outside tenure) and the eastern zone is approximately 1,500m long.

Kaiser says: “The expansion of the anomalous areas at Salambidwe creates an enticingly large target; the exploration team have done an excellent job in rugged terrain.”

“The company will define the priority targets for drill testing then review these in conjunction with the digital terrain data to ascertain accessibility.”

The Malawi Government says it is in process of reviewing the country’s Mines and Minerals Policy to take into account current trends in the sector.

Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Mining Tibonge Kampondeni told Mining & Trade Review that the Ministry intends to align the new policy to Malawi 2063 Economic Agenda which emphasizes on the development of Agriculture, Tourism and Mining sectors.

Kampondeni explained that the new Policy will focus on improving in some areas including financing and mechanization for Artisanal Small-scale Miners (ASMs).

She said: “The focus of the government is on Agriculture, Tourism and Mining sectors (ATM) and we have the MW2063 Vision so the policy needs to be aligned to these areas.”

“We talk about increased productivity and yet we are stopping small-scale miners from mechanization, the reason is that we want to protect the environment.”

“They can only use such type of equipment after applying to the Commissioner of Mines. We want to take care of this burden.”

“The aspect of financing was not conspicuous in the old policy. We need a financing mechanism that will link ASMs with financing institutions,” said Kampondeni.

Kampondeni explained that unlike the old policy, the new policy will improve collaboration between small, medium and large-scale miners.

She said the policy in pipeline will also encourage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to ensure that communities surrounding mines benefit from the mineral resources.

Kampondeni: “There is a need for collaboration between small, medium and large miners where for example medium or large-scale mining companies could be used as outlets for small-scale miners in the value chain process.”

“For small-scale miners, CSR is not compulsory and they do not have community development agreements but at least we need to come up with a mechanism for mining companies to plough back to the community.”

“The issue of Occupational Safety, Health and Environment were also not clearly spelt out in the old policy. This is another area we want to look at.”

The coming Mines and Minerals Policy for Malawi reflects the realization by Government that the development of the Malawi mining industry can directly contribute to the economic growth of the country.

Meanwhile, the country is still using the old policy which was operationalized several years ago.

The Malawi Government says it is in process of reviewing the country’s Mines and Minerals Policy to take into account current trends in the sector.

Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Mining Tibonge Kampondeni told Mining & Trade Review that the Ministry intends to align the new policy to Malawi 2063 Economic Agenda which emphasizes on the development of Agriculture, Tourism and Mining sectors.

Kampondeni explained that the new Policy will focus on improving in some areas including financing and mechanization for Artisanal Small-scale Miners (ASMs).

She said: “The focus of the government is on Agriculture, Tourism and Mining sectors (ATM) and we have the MW2063 Vision so the policy needs to be aligned to these areas.”

“We talk about increased productivity and yet we are stopping small-scale miners from mechanization, the reason is that we want to protect the environment.”

“They can only use such type of equipment after applying to the Commissioner of Mines. We want to take care of this burden.”

“The aspect of financing was not conspicuous in the old policy. We need a financing mechanism that will link ASMs with financing institutions,” said Kampondeni.

Kampondeni explained that unlike the old policy, the new policy will improve collaboration between small, medium and large-scale miners.

She said the policy in pipeline will also encourage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to ensure that communities surrounding mines benefit from the mineral resources.

Kampondeni: “There is a need for collaboration between small, medium and large miners where for example medium or large-scale mining companies could be used as outlets for small-scale miners in the value chain process.”

“For small-scale miners, CSR is not compulsory and they do not have community development agreements but at least we need to come up with a mechanism for mining companies to plough back to the community.”

“The issue of Occupational Safety, Health and Environment were also not clearly spelt out in the old policy. This is another area we want to look at.”

The coming Mines and Minerals Policy for Malawi reflects the realization by Government that the development of the Malawi mining industry can directly contribute to the economic growth of the country.

Meanwhile, the country is still using the old policy which was operationalized several years ago.

Coal miners in Malawi are finding it difficult to meet the high demand for coal in the country due to operational challenges.

Mining & Trade Review has established that demand for coal has skyrocketed in Malawi due to foreign exchange shortages which are forcing consumers to buy locally.

MD for Rukuru Coal Mining Bruno Kloser, whose company runs Chombe Coal Mine at Chiweta in Rumphi District, said due to the rising demand for coal, his company is working on increasing production at the mine.

Kloser said currently the mine is not able to meet the demand from customers as there is need for installation of additional equipment to increase rate of production.

He said: “We are not able to meet the demand at the moment as production does not just increase overnight so we need to get the equipment and staff.”

MD for DDY Coal mine David Nyirenda admitted that there is high demand for coal because there is no competition with imported coal as companies are finding it difficult to import coal due to forex shortages.

“There is demand for coal as we do not have competition from outside Malawi as companies are finding it hard to import coal due to scarcity of forex, however we are not able to meet the demand due to lack of working capital as local financial institutions are always reluctant to lend to the industry,” Nyirenda said.

Acting Mine Manager for Mchenga coal mine Assan Tembo said in a separate interview that Mchenga is working on meeting the demand from customers by opening other mining sites in its tenement area.

“This side we had heavy rains so we were not able to open other ore sites, but after the rains finish we will open other sites so that we are able to meet the demand,” he said

Tembo disclosed that in order to implement the expansion plans, the Company has mobilised additional equipment and is working on repairing a bulldozer.

The major consumers for coal in Malawi include the tobacco, brewery and cement industries.

The Ministry of Mining has announced that Malawi will hold its first ever mining investment forum this year.

Minister of Mining Honourable Monica Chang’anamuno said at a Press Briefing at her Ministry’s headquarters in Lilongwe that the forum will be held at Bingu International Convention Centre from April 23to 24under the theme: Transforming the Nation through sustainable mineral extraction.

Chang’anamuno said the forum is important because the mining sector is central to the country’s development agenda as outlined in Malawi 2063.

She said: “Malawi has essential mineral resources such as rare earth elements, graphite, uranium, gold and others which are instrumental to industrialization.”

“These minerals are a significant source of government revenue through royalties, taxes and fees which are essential for funding development projects across various sectors in the country.”

The Minister said that the Forum will serve as a platform for multi stakeholder engagement that will bring together government representatives, artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs), mining companies, financial institutions, civil service organizations (CSOs) and various service providers.

Chang’anamuno also said the Forum will help participants to explore strategies and solutions to unlock Malawi’s enormous mineral potential for the benefit of its citizens.

She said the Forum is expected to attract over 300 participants from African countries and beyond, and Government expects the event to subsequently attract many investors not only in mining and mineral exploration but also in other sectors such as tourism and hospitality as service providers.

“This Forum is going to benefit the country a lot as it will unearth the potential of our minerals sector to the world so that a lot of investors can come and invest,” said chang’anamuno.

The Forum has been organized by the Malawi Government in partnership with the private sector and other stakeholders in order to promote Malawi’s mining sector.

Chang’anamuno hinted that Government plans to make the Forum, which will be inaugurated by his Excellency the President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, an annual event.

Though it is key in Malawi’s development agenda, the mining sector only contributes a staggering 1% to Malawi’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Answering questions from journalists on why Malawi is not adequately benefiting from the sector, Chang’anamuno appealed to Malawians to be patient saying large scale mining projects take years to reach production stage.

“It is just a matter of time before the country starts reaping the benefits from the large-scale mining projects which have to undergo exploration and feasibility studies that require time,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Minister announced at the same press briefing that preparations to operationalize the long-awaited Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority are at an advanced stage.

“The Ministry was waiting for financial allocation from the Treasury and I am glad to report that funds have been set aside in the current budget to operationalize the Authority,” she said.

Malawi has repealed the Mines and Minerals Act 2019 and replaced it with a new Act that incorporates provisions for the establishment of an independent regulatory authority of the mining and mineral resources.

The new Act explains that the regulatory authority will be responsible for regulating mineral resources and mining activities in the country including but not limited to; granting of mining licences; inspection of mining activities; advising the Minister on policy matters of the mining sector; and generally implementing the objectives of the Act and anything necessary or incidental to the better carrying out of the functions of the Authority.

Stakeholders in the sector have received news about the establishment of the Mining and Minerals Authority with a pinch of salt as there is a risk of duplication of roles between the Authority and other government departments such as Geological Survey Department and Department of Mines, which carry out functions similar to those allocated to the Authority.

The Mines and Minerals Act 2023 provides for the Minister responsible for mining to appoint five members of the Authority.  

As reported in our article on Page 6, Malawi will hold its first ever mining investment forum this year with the Malawi Government planning to make the forum an annual event.

We commend the Government for organizing this forum, which as Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno is quoted in the article, is expected to attract over 300 delegates including global mining investors.

We agree with the Minister that the forum is important because the mining sector is central to the country’s industrialization agenda as outlined in Malawi 2063.

Since exploration by different companies continues to prove that Malawi has sizeable quantities of essential mineral resources such as rare earth elements, graphite, uranium and niobium; there is need for the country to attract investors along the value chain to ensure local value addition of these minerals.

As Chang’anamuno is quoted in the article, Malawi also needs investors to provide different services to the mining industry including tourism and hospitality.

However, we believe that Government should go further than attracting foreign direct investment to empower Malawians to invest in mining and its value chain.

We should not only expect foreign investors to come to Malawi and invest in processing of minerals. Government needs to court financial institutions to support locals investing in mineral beneficiation projects.

It is disappointing that despite Government treating mining as a priority in its development agenda, many local financial institutions are not ready to finance mining projects because they treat the sector as risky.

It is imperative for the Department of Mines to court the financial institutions to start financing mining projects.

Government also needs to create a conducive environment for mining investors by ensuring that bureaucracy is rooted out of its systems.

It should not be taking ages for investors to acquire licences or get mining development agreements signed as this disappoints the concerned investors and has the potential to scare off other investors.

Malawi should also study the current best practices on taxation in other mining countries and come up with a competitive taxation rate.

It reflects badly on the country to hear that Paladin Energy, the previous investor in Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Karonga which closed due to low uranium prices, has resumed uranium mining at Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine in Namibia which was closed for the same reasons.

Malawi needs to study the taxation regime in countries like Namibia and apply a similar model to ensure that Kayelekera resumes production.

Investors cannot just be attracted by holding a forum, the best way to attract investor is to treat fairly the existing investors.