Feasibility studies are currently underway to determine the viability of
a Graphite mine in Malingunde, Traditional Authority Masumbankhunda in
Lilongwe District.
Mwenda speaking at Sovereign Services Services Limited meeting with
stakeholders on Malingunde Graphite Project held Tuesday at Korean
Garden Lodge in Lilongwe
Sovereign Services Services Limited manager Kruger speaking at a meeting
with stakeholders on Malingunde Graphite Project held Tuesday at Korean
Garden Lodge in Lilongwe.
Briefing the media in the city Tuesday, Country Manager for Sovereign
Services Limited, Andries Kruger said exploration is currently underway
which includes conducting various technical studies to evaluate the
viability of the Graphite Project in the area.
Sovereign Services Limited is an Australian publicly listed company that
has proposed the development of an open graphite mine at Malingunde
located directly north of Kamuzu Dam II, within the proximity of
Kumalindi, Ndumila and Kumbale villages.
Among other aspects, Kruger said the feasibility study will consider the
resettlement planning process for people who will be displaced if
Sovereign Metals decides to proceed with the project mid-2019.
He said once the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has
approved the project, there will be discussion with each household in
the area to confirm their assets, agree on the compensation package and
sign a compensation certificate.
“If resettlement is required, the earliest time when people are likely
to be moved is in 2020. However, communities are encouraged to continue
with their normal lives and activities, and can cultivate their fields
during the upcoming season,” he said.
According to the Sovereign Metals Services Limited country manager, the
economic scoping study was completed in mid-2017 while the
pre-feasibility study (PFS) will be completed towards the end of August
2018, after which the company will commence a definitive feasibility
study (DFS).
“A decision on whether it is viable to develop a [graphite] mine at
Malingunde will only be taken around mid-2019 once the DFS has been
completed,” Kruger said.
Currently, Sovereign Metals Services is also conducting an environmental
and social impact assessment (ESIA), as a requirement by the Environment
Management Act (No 19 of 2017).
“A number of environmental specialists have been undertaking fieldwork
in the area since 2017 in support of the ESIA process,” said Kruger.
He said the aim of the activities was to gather baseline data on
environmental and social conditions in the project area which will have
a bearing in determining the potential impact that a mining operation
may have in the area.
Director of Mines, Jalf Salima said Sovereign Services Limited has
noticed significant amount of graphite during its feasibility study
which suggests Malingunde might have a mining company after further
studies have been conducted.
Salima said the Department of Mining is working closely with Sovereign
Services Limited to ensure that all the necessary steps are taken before
issuing a mining license.
“This is an important project and a lot of pertinent factors have to be
taken into consideration before issuing the license, if it will be
issued. That means the project will commence in 2020,” he said.
The Malingunde Graphite Project will be located approximately 15
kilometers (km) southwest of Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe