FEASIBILITY STUDY: SONGWE & PFS RESULTS: PUŁAWY
Summary by AI BETAClose X
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ONLY AND IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
|
|
|
|
MKANGO RESOURCES LTD. |
|
|
550 Burrard Street |
|
|
Suite 2900 |
|
|
Vancouver |
|
|
BC V6C 0A3 |
|
|
Canada |
|
MKANGO ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF UPDATED FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE SONGWE HILL RARE EARTHS PROJECT IN MALAWI AND PRE-FEASIBILITY RESULTS FOR THE PROPOSED PUŁAWY RARE EARTH SEPARATION PLANT IN POLAND
London / Vancouver: March 19, 2026 - Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM/TSX-V: MKA) (the "Company" or "Mkango") is pleased to announce the results of the updated definitive feasibility study ("DFS") for the Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project ("Songwe" or the "Project") in Malawi, and results of a pre-feasibility study ("PFS") for the proposed Puławy Rare Earths Separation Plant ("Puławy") in Poland.
Alexander Lemon, President of Mkango commented: "We are delighted to announce the results of our updated NI 43-101 DFS for the Songwe Hill Rare Earths project and the PFS results for the Puławy Rare Earth Separation Plant. Incorporating revised rare earth pricing, capital and operating cost assumptions, these studies reflect our commitment to moving these high-quality projects forward. As one of the few companies in the sector to update feasibility studies with current market pricing, Mkango is uniquely positioned as a future supplier of both mined and recycled rare earths - a critical differentiator as global demand for green transition materials accelerates. Songwe in Malawi and Puławy in Poland are landmark projects for the communities and economies they are expected to transform and our mission to deliver sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders."
Based on updated feasibility‑study inputs and assumptions regarding rare earth pricing, production volumes, recoveries, capital and operating costs, discount rates, tax regimes, project schedules, and market demand forecasts, as well as the technical, environmental and regulatory parameters set out in the DFS and PFS and as summarised in this release (the "Study-level Assumptions"), selected study-level outputs from the DFS and PFS include:
● Songwe is among the very few rare earths projects globally to have achieved the DFS stage, with a Mining Development Agreement, a full Environmental, Social, Health Impact Assessment ("ESHIA") completed in compliance with IFC Performance Standards. The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (2020) ("GISTM") has been adopted for design and management of the tailings storage facility, as well as Songwe being selected as a strategic project under the European Union Critical Raw Materials Act ("CRMA").
· Songwe will produce a value-add purified mixed rare earth carbonate ("MREC") product, which can be sold into international markets and is suitable for the proposed Puławy separation plant in Poland.
· Neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium are critical for the green transition, used in permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and many electronic devices.
● Operating life of 18 years for Songwe, with production averaging 5,954 tonnes per year total rare earth oxides ("TREO") for the first full five years of production, including 1,953 tonnes per year of neodymium and praseodymium oxides, and 56 tonnes per year of dysprosium and terbium oxides, in a MREC grading 55% TREO (dry basis).
● Songwe initial capital expenditure ("capex") of approximately US$325.5 million (including a US$27.8 million contingency) for development of mine, mill, flotation and hydrometallurgy plants, tailings storage facility, and related project infrastructure in Malawi.
● Puławy initial plant capex of approximately US$212 million (including a US$35.4 million contingency) for development of a Rare Earth Separation plant and related project infrastructure in Poland.
● Songwe post-tax net present value ("NPV") of approximately US$339 million, using a 10% nominal discount rate, with an internal rate of return ("IRR") of 24%, payback period of 3.4 years from start of full production and post-tax life-of-operations nominal cash flow of US$1.55 billion.
● Puławy post-tax NPV of approximately US$779 million, using a 10% nominal discount rate, with an IRR of 40%, payback period of 2.12 years from start of full production and post-tax life-of-operations nominal cash flow of US$4.95 billion.
● Applying Adamas Intelligence upside forecasts[1], Songwe's post-tax NPV increases to approximately US$489 million with a nominal IRR of 29%, payback period of 2.9 years from start of full production and post-tax life-of-operations nominal cash flow of $2.04 billion while Puławy's expanded 100% neodymium/praseodymium ("NdPr") separation case rises to a post-tax NPV of approximately US$892 million and nominal IRR of 43%, payback period of 1.89 years from start of full production and post-tax life-of-operations nominal cash flow of $5.58 billion.
Summary of Selected Financial DFS-level outputs for Songwe Hill - Post-Tax Basis
|
Item |
Unit |
Value |
|
Life of operations post-tax nominal cash flow |
US$ million |
1,554.0 |
|
Payback period from project start1 |
Years |
5.9 |
|
Payback period from start of full production |
Years |
3.4 |
|
Post-tax NPV at 10% (nominal) discount rate |
US$ million |
339.5 |
|
Post-tax IRR (nominal) |
% |
24.3 |
1 Assumes project start i.e. start of capital expenditure in July 2027.
2 Figures based on Mkango owning all of the shares of Mkango Rare Earths Limited ("MKAR"). Mkango's interest in MKAR will be diluted following the proposed business combination with Crown Proptech Acquisitions and related proposed listing on Nasdaq of the MKAR shares to a significant majority interest, subject to the final transaction structure. It is expected that MKAR will be a "controlled company" for Nasdaq listing purposes.
Songwe - Project Overview
Mkango appointed SENET, a DRA Global company, as the principal consultant to complete the original and the updated DFS. SENET is a leading engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) minerals processing and project delivery firm located in Africa. Other primary consultants for the updated DFS included the following:
Geology, Mineral Resource, and Geotechnical Investigation: The MSA Group (Pty) Ltd ("MSA")
Mining: Bara Consulting (Pty) Ltd ("Bara")
Comminution: Grinding Solutions Limited ("Grinding Solutions"), Keramos
Process Plant including On-Site and Off-Site Infrastructure: SENET, a DRA Global Company ("SENET")
Hydrometallurgy: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation ("ANSTO")
Flotation: KYSPY Investments (Pty) Ltd ("KYSPYmet"), ALS Metallurgy (Pty) Ltd ("ALS Metallurgy")
Tailings Storage Facility (TSF): Epoch Resources (Pty) Ltd ("Epoch")
Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA): Digby Wells and Associates (Pty) Ltd ("Digby Wells Environmental"), Kongiwe Environmental (Pty) Ltd
Geochemistry: SGS Australia (Pty) Ltd
Geotechnical testwork: Western Geotechnical and Laboratory Services
Logistics: C. Steinweg Bridge (Pty) Ltd
Market Intelligence: Adamas Intelligence Inc ("Adamas")
The DFS is based on a conventional open pit contract mining operation, feeding mills, flotation and hydrometallurgy plants on site in Malawi to produce a MREC, with an operating life (mining and processing) of 18 years. The Company believes there is potential to increase the mine life given the additional Inferred Resource, and the potential to expand the Mineral Resource. The DFS supports the declaration of a Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve Estimate of 18.1 million tonnes grading 1.16% TREO.
Songwe features broad zones of outcropping rare earth mineralisation on the northern slopes of a steep sided hill. The annual processing capacity is assumed to be approximately 1.0 million tonnes per year of ore producing an average of 5, 954 tonnes of TREO in MREC per year for the first five years and 4, 081 tonnes of TREO in MREC per year in years 6 to 18. The MREC will be cerium depleted. Because cerium is currently considered to have challenging market fundamentals, there is a strong economic rationale to remove as much cerium as possible and, as a result, a large proportion of the cerium will be removed from the MREC during the hydrometallurgical process. Confirmation of the flotation and hydrometallurgical processing flow sheets was underpinned by seven piloting campaigns at ALS Metallurgy and ANSTO.
The final stage of hydrometallurgical piloting at ANSTO produced MREC grading 55% TREO equivalent, enriched in Nd/Pr oxides, which together made up 31% of the rare earth oxide content in the carbonate product (i.e. Nd/Pr oxides / TREO = 31%).
Energy supply of 25 megawatts ("MW") is expected to be obtained from the Malawi grid network for the Project, which in Malawi is from hydroelectric and solar sources. A 25 MW back up solar farm with battery storage and diesel generators is also expected to be installed.
The MREC is expected to be exported via largely existing infrastructure. The Project is located approximately 95 km by road from Blantyre, the largest commercial centre in Malawi, which is served by a rail head and international airport.
There have been significant improvements to local infrastructure in recent years. The Malawi Roads Authority has upgraded an existing government road from nearby Migowi to the Songwe Hill project site. This 15 -km government road has been upgraded and widened to an all-weather gravel road with reinforced concrete culverts, embankments and bridges installed.
The MREC is expected to be sold to the proposed Puławy project in Poland for separation. The DFS is based on the sale of MREC. The Puławy PFS, completed by PRODEO Consulting (Pty) Ltd and dated 19 March, 2026, indicates a separation cost of approximately US$2.14[2] per kilogram of TREO in MREC to produce the designated product suite at Puławy. The PFS forecasts a separation plant CAPEX for the proposed separation plant (expanded capacity, 100% separation plant option) targeted at approximately US$212 million[3].
Based on the Study-level Assumptions, the following summary of the key inputs and results of the updated Songwe DFS is presented in the tables below:
Summary of Mining and Processing Inputs and Results - Average over First Full Five Years
|
Item |
Unit |
Value |
|
Mining |
|
|
|
Average yearly ore mined |
kt |
2,186 |
|
Average TREO grade mined |
% |
1.19 |
|
Average yearly waste mined |
kt |
3,667 |
|
Average strip ratio (waste:ore) |
|
1.68 |
|
Processing |
|
|
|
Average yearly flotation plant feed |
kt |
1,000.8 |
|
Average plant feed TREO grade |
% |
1.50 |
|
Flotation TREO concentrate grade |
% |
15.05 |
|
Average TREO recovery to concentrate |
% |
74.10 |
|
Average yearly flotation concentrate feed to hydrometallurgical plant |
kt |
74.06 |
|
Average NdPr oxide hydrometallurgical recovery to carbonate |
% |
85.3 |
|
Average Ce oxide hydrometallurgical recovery to carbonate |
% |
20.9 |
|
Average yearly TREOs in carbonate product |
t |
5,954 |
|
Average carbonate TREO grade |
% |
55 |
|
Average yearly carbonate production (dry basis) |
t |
10,826 |
Summary of Mining and Processing Inputs and Results - Life of Operations (averages)
|
Item |
Unit |
Value |
|
Life of operations (mining and processing) |
Years |
18 |
|
Mining |
|
|
|
Average yearly ore mined |
kt |
1,481 |
|
Average TREO grade mined |
% |
1.16 |
|
Average yearly waste mined |
kt |
3,311 |
|
Average strip ratio (waste:ore) |
|
2.2 |
|
Processing |
|
|
|
Average yearly flotation plant feed |
kt |
1,000.8 |
|
Average plant feed TREO grade |
% |
1.16 |
|
Flotation TREO concentrate grade |
% |
11.64 |
|
Average TREO recovery to concentrate |
% |
74.10 |
|
Average yearly flotation concentrate feed to hydrometallurgical plant |
kt |
74.06 |
|
Average NdPr oxide hydrometallurgical recovery to carbonate |
% |
85.3 |
|
Average Ce oxide hydrometallurgical recovery to carbonate |
% |
20.9 |
|
Average yearly TREOs in carbonate product |
t |
4,634 |
|
Average carbonate TREO grade |
% |
55.00 |
|
Average yearly carbonate production (dry basis) |
t |
8,425 |
Summary of Mining and Processing Inputs and Results - Life of Operations (totals)
|
Item |
Unit |
Value |
|
Mining |
|
|
|
Total ore mined |
kt |
18,147.8 |
|
Total waste mined |
kt |
40,553.9 |
|
Strip ratio (waste: ore) |
|
2.2 |
|
Processing |
|
|
|
Total flotation concentrate feed to hydrometallurgical plant |
kt |
1,341.4 |
|
Total contained TREO in carbonate product |
kt |
83.4 |
|
Total carbonate production (dry basis) |
t |
151,644 |
Market and Financial Analysis
A detailed financial model was constructed based on input parameters and the Study-level Assumptions set out in the DFS. Free cash flows were modelled in both real and nominal terms for a range of discount rates and on a debt free basis.
MREC price forecasts and underlying rare earth oxide ("REO") price forecasts were based on the following current market analysis by Adamas Intelligence from their Q4 2025 dated report entitled Rare Earth Market Outlook: Independent Analysis for Inclusion in Mkango Resources' Songwe Hill Feasibility Study (the "Adamas Analysis"). Adamas Intelligence highlights that from 2024 through 2040:
· Global demand for NdFeB magnets is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") of 8.5%, bolstered by double-digit growth from the electric vehicle and wind power sectors, translating into comparable demand growth for the rare earth elements ("REEs") (i.e., neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium) that these magnets contain.
· Global production of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium are forecast to collectively increase at a slower CAGR of 7.4 % as the supply side of the market increasingly struggles to keep up with rapidly growing demand.
Based on the Adamas Analysis, from 2024 through 2040, the global rare earth industry is expected to consistently underproduce neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium oxides (or oxide equivalents), resulting in the depletion of historically accumulated inventories and, ultimately, shortages of these critical magnet materials if supply is not increased beyond the levels currently anticipated.
Songwe offers strong economic exposure to the rare earth permanent magnet sector, which is the fastest-growing end-use category for rare earths and the one most in need of additional rare earth supplies. Based on the DFS metallurgical recoveries, MREC composition, and the Adamas Analysis, the DFS indicates that the high proportion of valuable magnet-related REEs in the Songwe Hill project's prospective TREO production means that a future mine (with separation) could generate approximately 95% of its rare earth revenues from just 34% of its production volume.
Adamas Intelligence forecasts the following for the basket value (real 2025 US dollars) of Songwe Hill's TREO production:
· Base case: US$28.40/kg in 2025 increasing to US$69.60/kg in 2034
· Upside scenario: US$28.91/kg in 2025 increasing to US$79.39/kg in 2034
The key revenue drivers for Songwe are neodymium and praseodymium. The base case basket value and MREC price forecasts reflect underlying neodymium oxide (Nd oxide) and praseodymium oxide (Pr oxide) price forecasts.
Based on the preceding assumptions and the other Study-level Assumptions, the discounted cash flow valuation analysis for the base case in the DFS provided the following results:
· NPV at 10% (nominal) (7.3% real) of US$339 million as at 30 June 2025
· IRR of 24.3% (nominal) (21.3% real)
These are project‑level economic assessment outputs used to evaluate potential economic viability and do not constitute corporate‑level forecasts or guidance. Actual results may differ materially if Study-level Assumptions change.
NPVs of Songwe Hill Project1
|
Financial |
Nominal |
Real |
Adamas Intelligence |
Adamas Intelligence |
|
|
8.0 |
5.37 |
461.2 |
644.8 |
|
Base Case |
10.0 |
7.32 |
339.5 |
488.5 |
|
|
12.0 |
9.27 |
247.3 |
369.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Nominal Internal Rate of Return |
24.3% |
29.3% |
||
|
Real Internal Rate of Return |
21.3% |
26.1% |
||
|
1 As at 30 June 2025 |
||||
Operating Costs
Cash operating costs include the costs of contract mining, milling, flotation, leaching, purification and precipitation to produce a MREC in addition to other costs associated with the operation. The operating costs do not include the cost of separation, which is reflected in the 15% discount applied to the basket value of the REOs in MREC. The estimate of operating expenditure ("OPEX"), and the associated general and administration ("G&A") costs, were calculated to an accuracy of ±10% and were utilised in the economic analysis of the Project.
Reagents and consumables account for 49% of estimated OPEX, with power accounting for an additional 13%. The Company and SENET, together with the Company's other consultants, have identified opportunities to reduce reagent consumption and optimise the flowsheet. This will be investigated further in parallel with front end engineering and design ("FEED") work for Songwe.
Operating Costs - Average over First Full Five Years
|
Item |
Value (US$/kg TREO) |
|
Mining |
5.4 |
|
Beneficiation - Milling and Flotation |
9.1 |
|
Hydrometallurgical Plant |
5.2 |
|
G&A and Other |
2.5 |
|
Total Operating Costs |
22.3 |
Operating Costs - Average over Life of Operations
|
Item |
Value (US$/kg TREO) |
|
Mining |
4.4 |
|
Beneficiation - Milling and Flotation |
11.6 |
|
Hydrometallurgical Plant |
6.8 |
|
G&A and Other |
3.2 |
|
Total Operating Costs |
26.1 |
Capital Expenditure
The estimate of initial capital expenditure costs was calculated to an accuracy of ±10% and was utilised in the economic analysis of the Project. The largest capex component is an integrated processing plant comprising a mill, flotation plant, hydrometallurgical plant, and a sulphuric acid plant with co-generated power capacity. The capex estimate for the integrated processing plant was completed by SENET and covers the design, engineering, procurement, supply/manufacture, construction and pre-commissioning of the proposed new processing facility and associated plant complex infrastructure including a 24.4 MW solar facility. Other major capex items include the cost of a lined tailings storage facility with design provided by Epoch.
Based on the Study-level Assumptions in the DFS, total initial capital expenditure is US$297.8 million, not including a contingency of US$27.8 million.
Capital Cost Summary
|
Item |
Value (US$ million) |
|
Total Development Capital |
297.8 |
|
Contingency |
27.8 |
|
Total Development Capital Including Contingency |
325.5 |
|
Sustaining capital and reclamation |
91.5 |
|
Total Capital Expenditure |
417.0 |
Capital Cost Breakdown
|
Description |
CAPEX (US$) |
Contingency (US$) |
Total CAPEX (US$) |
|
Earthworks |
8,151,015 |
776,287 |
8,927,303 |
|
Civil Works - Plant |
19,480,113 |
2,060,397 |
21,540,510 |
|
Civil Works - Infrastructure |
2,068,686 |
197,018 |
2,265,704 |
|
Infrastructure |
2,918,556 |
138,979 |
3,057,535 |
|
Structural Steel |
6,345,323 |
423,022 |
6,768,345 |
|
Plate Work |
2,658,354 |
177,224 |
2,835,578 |
|
Tankage |
4,332,050 |
322,047 |
4,654,097 |
|
Machinery and Equipment |
52,477,378 |
2,894,436 |
55,371,814 |
|
Piping |
5,404,822 |
557,332 |
5,962,154 |
|
Valves |
1,708,249 |
176,150 |
1,884,399 |
|
Electricals |
12,266,339 |
676,561 |
12,942,899 |
|
Instrumentation |
4,887,810 |
504,019 |
5,391,829 |
|
Transport |
5,354,754 |
600,116 |
5,954,870 |
|
E&I Installation |
7,513,682 |
715,589 |
8,229,270 |
|
SMPP Installation |
27,828,259 |
2,650,310 |
30,478,569 |
|
TOTAL DIRECT FIELD COSTS |
163,395,391 |
12,869,485 |
176,264,875 |
|
Commissioning Spares |
261,004 |
39,151 |
300,155 |
|
2-Year Operational Spares |
1,887,855 |
283,178 |
2,171,033 |
|
Insurance and Critical Spares |
2,207,202 |
331,080 |
2,567,541 |
|
Vendor Services |
3,102,209 |
465,331 |
3,567,541 |
|
First Fills |
644,483 |
96,672 |
741,155 |
|
TOTAL INDIRECT FIELD COSTS |
8,102,753 |
1,215,413 |
9,318,166 |
|
TOTAL FIELD COST |
171,498,144 |
14,084,898 |
185,583,042 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Project Management (EPCM) |
24,438,573 |
3,665,786 |
28,104,359 |
|
Insurances and Guarantees |
3,290,594 |
0 |
3,290,594 |
|
TOTAL EPCM COSTS |
27,729,167 |
3,665,786 |
31,394,953 |
|
TOTAL PROJECT COST |
199,227,311 |
17,750,684 |
216,977,994 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mobile Plant and Equipment |
3,899,263 |
584,889 |
4,484,152 |
|
Generator Plant |
7,229,334 |
328,606 |
7,557,940 |
|
PV Solar Plant |
13,545,135 |
1,459,305 |
15,004,440 |
|
Construction Camp |
3,150,217 |
472,533 |
3,622,749 |
|
TSF Phase 1 and RWD |
43,814,395 |
4,381,439 |
48,195,834 |
|
Mining Pre-Production |
14,428,214 |
2,164,232 |
16,592,446 |
|
Other |
12,460,340 |
623,017 |
13,083,357 |
|
TOTAL OTHER COST |
98,526,897 |
10,014,022 |
108,540,919 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL INITIAL COST |
297,754,208 |
27,764,705 |
325,518,913 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TSF Sustaining Capital - Phases 2 to 5 |
60,236,066 |
6,023,507 |
66,258,573 |
|
Mining Sustaining Capital |
532,531 |
79,880 |
612,411 |
|
Closure Cost |
16,675,138 |
1,026,618 |
17,701,756 |
|
Owners Cost |
6,257,078 |
625,708 |
6,882,785 |
|
TOTAL SUSTAINING COST |
83,699,813 |
7,755,712 |
91,455,525 |
|
TOTAL COST |
381,454,021 |
35,520,417 |
416,974,438 |
The following assumptions were made in the preparation of this estimate:
· The LOO is 18 years.
· There will be a smooth transition between the various project implementation phases.
Topography, Geotechnical and Materials:
· A 2 m deep soil improvement was assumed below all the earthworks platforms.
· All the required fill material was assumed to be available within a 2 km radius, from either necessary excavations or designated borrow pits.
· No piling allowance has been included in the estimate.
· For the intermediate and hard rock excavations, 20 % and 15 % of the bulk excavations volume was allowed for, respectively.
· Allowance was made for grading of the PV plants to a maximum gradient of 14 %. This was done to allow for the axial movement of the panels.
· The process water pond and events pond were considered to have double HDPE liner systems while the raw water pond was considered to have a single HDPE liner system. All the relevant geotextiles and installation of the systems were included.
· The ROM wall was included as a mechanically stabilised earth wall with a gabion face. It was assumed that the gabion rock for that wall face would be locally available, either from site or from commercial sources.
· Excavated material will be non-acid generating.
· No additional topographical studies were made available; therefore, the structural design was not modified.
· The structural design assumptions were not modified after reviewing the geotechnical report that became available after the initial assumptions had been made.
Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates
The DFS is based on the updated Mineral Resource Estimate with an effective date of 30 June 2025, which restates the previous (2019) block model using revised pit optimisation and cut-off assumptions. No new drilling has been completed since 2018, and the geological block model remains unchanged. Inclusive Mineral Resources are presented below in order to be consistent with those reported by Mkango under the NI 43-101 standards.
The Mineral Resources are reported from within an optimised pit shell and above a 0.55% TREO grade, as summarised below.
The Mineral Resource Estimate has an effective date of 30 June 2025.
|
Category |
Tonnage (Mt) |
TREO % |
TREO ('000 Tonnes) |
|
Measured |
13.6 |
1.27 |
173 |
|
Indicated |
24.4 |
1.08 |
264 |
|
Measured & Indicated |
38.1 |
1.15 |
437 |
|
Inferred |
55.9 |
1.05 |
589 |
Notes:
1. Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2014), as incorporated by reference in NI 43-101.
2. All tabulated data has been rounded, and as a result minor computational errors may occur.
3. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability.
4. The Mineral Resource estimate is reported on a 100% ownership basis.
5. Mineral Resources are reported from within an optimised pit shell.
6. For the purposes of assessing reasonable prospects for economic extraction and cut-off grade, metallurgical recoveries were applied to individual rare earth oxides. The average total rare earth oxide metallurgical recovery is 39.6%.
7. Mineral Resources include the portion converted to Mineral Reserves.
8. Mineral Resources are reported on an in-situ basis without applying modifying factors.
9. A mean density of 2.73 t/m³ was applied for Measured, 2.67 t/m³ for Indicated and 2.77 t/m³ for Inferred Resources.
TREO = La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb4O7, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, and Y2O3
The following sensitivity analyses are based on the updated Mineral Resource statement with an effective date of 30 June 2025. The sensitivity of the Mineral Resource at a variety of cut-off grades for the combined Measured and Indicated categories is presented in the following table.
|
Cut-off |
Tonnage (Mt) |
TREO % |
TREO ('000 Tonnes) |
|
0.45 |
40.2 |
1.11 |
448 |
|
0.55 |
38.1 |
1.15 |
437 |
|
0.65 |
35.2 |
1.19 |
420 |
|
0.75 |
31.7 |
1.25 |
396 |
|
0.85 |
27.8 |
1.31 |
365 |
|
1.00 |
21.9 |
1.41 |
310 |
The Inferred Mineral Resources are presented at a variety of cut-off grades in the table below.
|
Cut-off |
Tonnage (Mt) |
TREO % |
TREO ('000 Tonnes) |
|
0.45 |
59.7 |
1.02 |
608 |
|
0.55 |
55.9 |
1.05 |
589 |
|
0.65 |
49.9 |
1.11 |
553 |
|
0.75 |
43.5 |
1.17 |
508 |
|
0.85 |
37.0 |
1.23 |
456 |
|
1.00 |
28.1 |
1.33 |
373 |
The DFS supports the declaration of a Mineral Reserve Estimate for the Project. The results of the DFS have shown that the mining inventory included in the study, which is derived from only Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, can be viably mined based on the techno-economic assumptions in the DFS. Mineral Reserves resulting from Measured Mineral Resources have been considered as Proven Mineral Reserves while those generated from Indicated Mineral Resources are categorised as Probable Mineral Reserves.
The TREO grades presented below are supported by individual rare earth oxide grades (including Nd₂O₃, Pr₆O₁₁, La₂O₃, CeO₂ and other REEs), which are included in the table for each reserve category.
|
Category |
Tonnage (Mt) |
TREO % |
CeO2 (ppm) |
Dy2O3 (ppm)
|
Er2O3 (ppm)
|
Eu2O3 (ppm)
|
Gd2O3 (ppm)
|
Ho2O3 (ppm)
|
La2O3 (ppm)
|
Lu2O3 (ppm)
|
Nd2O3 (ppm)
|
Pr6O11 (ppm)
|
Sm2O3 (ppm)
|
Tb4O7 (ppm)
|
Tm2O3 (ppm)
|
Y2O3 (ppm)
|
Yb2O3 (ppm)
|
|
Proven Mineral Reserves |
8.16 |
1.28 |
5,779 |
108 |
41 |
80 |
190 |
17 |
3,069 |
4 |
2,027 |
606 |
294 |
23 |
5 |
493 |
30 |
|
Probable Mineral Reserves |
9.988 |
1.07 |
4,852 |
89 |
34 |
66 |
159 |
14 |
2,633 |
3 |
1,642 |
498 |
243 |
19 |
4 |
410 |
25 |
|
Total Ore Reserves |
18.147 |
1.16 |
5,269 |
98 |
37 |
72 |
173 |
16 |
2,829 |
4 |
1,815 |
547 |
266 |
21 |
5 |
448 |
27 |
Notes:
1. Totals might not add up due to rounding.
2. Mineral Reserves are stated as tonnages and grades delivered to the processing plant and are inclusive of dilution and mining losses expected during mining.
3. Mkango owns 100 % of the Songwe Hill Project.
4. The Mineral Reserve is stated at a cut-off grade of 0.6% TREO
5. Ore tonnages are stated at an average in-situ density of 2.76 t/m3.
The table below shows a summary of the total Mineral Reserves.
Mineral Reserve Estimate as at 30 April 2025
|
Category |
Tonnage (Mt) |
TREO % |
TREO (t) |
|
Proven Mineral Reserves |
8.160 |
1.28 |
104,183 |
|
Probable Mineral Reserves |
9.988 |
1.07 |
106,801 |
|
Total Ore Reserves |
18.147 |
1.16 |
210,984 |
Notes:
1. Totals might not add due to rounding.
2. Mineral Reserves are stated as tonnages and grades delivered to the processing plant and are inclusive of dilution and mining losses expected during mining.
3. The Mineral Reserve estimate is reported on a 100% ownership basis.
4. The Mineral Reserve is stated at a cut-off grade of 0.6% TREO.
5. Ore tonnages are stated at an average in-situ density of 2.76 t/m³.
6. A weighted average process recovery to carbonate of 40% was used to calculate revenue from Mineral Reserves.
Mining Summary
The mine design was completed by Bara as part of the DFS and assumed the use of a contract miner. The mine plan incorporates the use of stockpiles to manage the grade profile and maximise returns. As part of the DFS, contract mining companies were integrally involved in the process of estimating mining-related inputs.
The mining method at Songwe will be conventional open-pit mining, making use of relatively small-scale trucks and diesel-hydraulic excavators, selected to match the mining conditions and required production rates. The procedure followed in arriving at the mine design was as follows:
· A geotechnical evaluation was completed including logging of core on site. The geotechnical data was collated in a database and used to inform a geotechnical design of the pit slope design parameters.
· Using the slope design parameters, mining costs obtained from mining contractors, modifying factors derived during the pre-feasibility mining study, and product price data provided by Mkango from Adamas Intelligence, a pit optimisation was completed. The results of the pit optimisation were analysed, and a pit shell was selected on which to base the DFS pit design.
· Various scenarios of production rate, cut-off grade application, and stockpiling strategy were tested during the pit optimisation, and informed the options selected for the DFS pit design.
· Mine design criteria were developed for the pit design. A practical pit design was completed which included the design of haul roads and safety berms. The overall pit was split into two phases or cutbacks.
· A production schedule was developed, addressing all the material types produced from the pit over the life of mine (LOM). These material types included waste, Type 1 ore (included in Mineral Reserves Estimate, mine plan and financial forecasts) and Type 2 material (stockpiled and not included in Mineral Reserves Estimate, mine plan and financial forecasts).
Processing and Metallurgical Summary
Songwe Hill has been the subject of comprehensive test work completed over several campaigns since 2010, ensuring that the orebody and optimal processing routes are well understood. Surface grab samples, diamond drill core samples from drilling campaigns and bulk samples have been collected during this time and were used to determine the optimal beneficiation and recovery processes for the Songwe ore. Mineralogical analyses indicates that synchysite is the main rare earth bearing mineral within the carbonatite host rock. The understanding of the ore has been of fundamental importance in developing flowsheets for the beneficiation and recovery of rare earths.
The development of the processing flow sheet is underpinned by mineralogy, comminution, flotation and hydrometallurgical test work undertaken at laboratories in Australia (KYSPYmet, ALS Metallurgy, ANSTO, Keramos, SGS, Bureau Veritas, Nagrom), South Africa (Mintek), Canada (SGS, XPS) and the United Kingdom (Grinding Solutions, Camborne School of Mines, Natural History Museum, Aberystwyth University) and were complemented by three PhD research projects undertaken at Camborne School of Mines. Not only has this international effort delivered a processing flow sheet for Songwe, but it has led to a greater understanding of the mineralogy, geo-metallurgy and beneficiation processes for primary carbonatite hosted rare earth deposits.
Numerous bench-scale flotation tests were completed at KYSPYmet to develop the flotation regime for the DFS. This culminated in flotation piloting carried out at ALS Metallurgy which was completed over a seven-day period. The first three days were operated on a day shift only, with results collected during the day's shift to be analysed and assessed overnight in order to optimize conditions and make any adjustments for the next day of operation. The pilot plant was operated continuously for the last four days with relatively stable conditions.
Several different sets of data were collected during flotation piloting, which were used for the assessment of concentrate grade and recovery:
· Control Samples: Grab samples were typically taken every three to four hours during the trial on major streams. These results were used to control the circuit and make necessary changes to optimise the circuit performance.
· Shift Composites: Multiple samples were taken of major streams and composited together over each nominal 12-hour shift.
· Surveys: Multiple samples were taken of every stream in the plant over a one - two-hour period of stable operation. This data typically represents optimised results and allows a full circuit mass balance to be conducted.
· Timed final concentrate: The final concentrate was collected into 200 litre drums at timed intervals, nominally every three hours, and separated, filtered, sampled and assayed. This enabled the calculation of recovery (division of the REO units by the feed REO units over the time period).
ANSTO has conducted test work on Songwe flotation concentrate since mid-2019 in order to develop the hydrometallurgical flow sheet. Numerous tests were completed over a two-year span, optimising conditions for each unit operation in the hydrometallurgical plant. Bench-scale test work was conducted to establish the optimal process parameters, focusing on the optimal extraction of rare earths and effective rejection of impurities that might impact rare earth recovery. After the bench-scale test work, step-through tests were conducted on consecutive processing operations using material from the previous test in the next, which further refined the conditions and target reagent consumptions, rare earth extractions, and impurity levels. Following the step-through tests, the pilot plant design criteria were generated to upscale the process to continuous piloting. In many cases, bench-scale test work, step-through test work and piloting overlapped, as various unit operations were tested in parallel. Six campaigns of hydrometallurgical piloting were completed resulting in a hydrometallurgical flow sheet comprising the following steps:
· Gangue leach (hydrochloric acid) and acid regeneration using sulphuric acid
· Caustic conversion of gangue leach residue and cerium oxidation to reject cerium
· Caustic evaporation and regeneration
· Rare earth leach of caustic conversion residue
· Purification and rare earth carbonate precipitation
As noted above, the final stage of hydrometallurgical piloting at ANSTO produced MREC grading 55% TREO equivalent, enriched in neodymium and praseodymium (Nd/Pr) oxides, which together made up 31% of the rare earth oxide content in the carbonate product (i.e., Nd/Pr oxides / TREO = 31%).
Environmental, Social and Health Impact Studies
Digby Wells Environmental undertook the ESHIA process and Kongiwe Environmental (Pty) Ltd provided further input throughout. The ESHIA was undertaken to conform with the Malawian Environmental Management Act, No. 19 of 2017 (the EMA Act) promulgated in 2019 and in alignment with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards (PS) and the GISTM (2020). During the ESHIA process, Digby Wells worked with local Malawian experts, EnviroConsult, to ensure two-way knowledge transfer during the ESHIA in terms of international good practice and local expertise and compliance. The ESHIA was a culmination of over nine years of baseline studies and was reviewed and approved by the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) in January 2023.
Extensive stakeholder engagement has been undertaken in line with IFC requirements with local communities and the Malawi government. This, in conjunction with extensive corporate social responsibility projects throughout the exploration stage, has resulted in a project enabling environment. The Project is expected to contribute to the development of Malawi by providing the country with an exportable product which is reliable, sought after and profitable, all while ensuring that minimal negative impacts occur to their surrounding environment and social fabric.
Proposed Puławy Separation Plant PFS
The pre-feasibility study ("PFS") in respect of the proposed separation plant at Puławy was completed by PRODEO Consulting (Pty) Ltd with a base date of 25 February 2026, with no provision for escalation of OPEX or CAPEX. The PFS has a level of accuracy of ±25% as is required for an AACE Class 4 estimate[4], (The study considered both the original design and an expanded 30,000 t/a mixed rare earth carbonate feed case (wet basis), with NdPr product split options of 0%, 50% and 100% separation.
The proposed project site in Puławy, next to the Grupa Azoty Puławy ("GAP") fertiliser and chemicals complex, is suitable for the process plant, offering excellent infrastructure and logistics and the opportunity to leverage synergies with GAP for reagents, utilities, by-product sales and operational readiness. At current projections, the project financials are expected to improve with 100% separation of NdPr into the individual Nd and Pr constituents. The base case assumed the expanded 30 000 t/a MREC (45% TREO, wet basis) feed with 100% NdPr separation option.
Subject to the Study-level Assumptions in the PFS, the key outputs from the financial model are as follows:
Using Adamas base case REO pricing:
· NPV (10% nominal discount rate) of US$779m
· IRR (nominal) of 39.7%
· Total cash flow (nominal) of US$4.95 billion
Using Adamas Upside REO pricing:
· NPV (10% nominal discount rate) of US$892m
· IRR (nominal) of 43.4%
· Total cash flow (nominal) of US$5.58 billion
Key assumptions for the financial model:
· 100% NdPr separation
· Discount rate of 10% (nominal)
· 19% corporate tax rate in Poland, with a EUR 37.5 million tax relief under the special economic zone scheme
· 2.5% per annum escalations on revenues and OPEX from 2026 onwards
· Rare earth carbonate feed purchase discount: 15% discount on the contained REO value in the rare earth carbonate purchased from the Project at Songwe Hill, 25% discount on the rare earth carbonate sourced from market
· Payability factors of Nd oxide, Pr oxide and NdPr oxide 100%; SEGH carbonate 75%; LaCe carbonate 100% at US$2/kg
· Adamas Intelligence base case (Q4 2025) rare earth price forecasts (for the base case REO pricing only)
· Milestone schedule including an assumed engineering start date of April 2026, procurement start date of September 2026, construction start date of April 2027, commission start date of October 2028 and production ramp-up start date of Q2 2029, ending in Q1 2030
· Life of operations from the first year of full production is 29 years (2030 - 2058)
· Initial feed for the plant at 13,430 t/a REO throughput capacity expected to be sourced from the Project at Songwe Hill (45% during the first five years of Puławy's initial seven-year operation (2030-2036), with the remaining 55% sourced from market). Following this, market-sourced carbonate is expected to increase to maintain the throughput capacity
· All the reagents, utilities, power and consumables will be available locally
· CAPEX is assumed to be incurred across 2027 and 2028 (25% in 2027, and 75% in 2028)
· Depreciation is assumed on a straight-line basis over 20 years from 2029
· A by-product credit of EUR 180/t has been applied for the ammonium bicarbonate by-product solution, based on a EUR 600/t reference price for 100% ammonium bicarbonate and a 50% value factor on contained ammonium bicarbonate in the 60% solution.
· For the financial analysis, transport costs for Songwe MREC from Beira Port to Puławy have been assumed at US$50/t.
· For the financial analysis, exchange rates of US$1.00 = EUR0.85 and EUR1.00 = PLN4.22 have been assumed.
The following table shows the operating cost breakdown for the proposed Puławy separation plant options.
|
Description |
50% NdPr Separation (US$/yr) |
0% NdPr Separation (US$/yr) |
100% NdPr Separation (US$/yr) |
|
Reagents |
14 483 789 |
14 355 492 |
14 499 208 |
|
Utilities |
1 785 718 |
1 721 215 |
1 850 700 |
|
Power |
3 877 772 |
3 148 980 |
3 906 714 |
|
Labour |
4 210 766 |
4 210 766 |
4 210 766 |
|
Consumables |
680 681 |
680 681 |
680 681 |
|
Maintenance |
1 058 824 |
882 353 |
1 129 412 |
|
Analytical |
553 161 |
529 812 |
556 945 |
|
General and Administration |
851 879 |
851 879 |
851 879 |
|
Other Costs |
1 007 364 |
961 284 |
1 012 831 |
|
TOTAL PLANT OPEX |
28 509 953 |
27 342 461 |
28 699 135 |
|
USD/t REO |
2 123 |
2 036 |
2 137 |
|
By-Product Credit |
7 328 764 |
7 307 566 |
7 349 963 |
CAPEX estimates excluded various items including import duties/taxes, value added taxes ("VAT"), similar taxes, financing costs and interest during construction, forex deviations/fluctuations, sustaining capital, owner's project contingency, changes in relevant laws, final operation closure and rehabilitation costs, any provision for force majeure events, schedule delays, costs associated with additional studies. OPEX estimates excluded all operating expenditures not directly associated with the processing facility, such as environmental, social and closure costs, VAT and applicable duties on operating supplies and transportation costs, as well as organic, aqueous or solid waste disposal fees, if any.
The following table shows the CAPEX breakdown for the proposed Puławy separation plant options.
|
Description |
Factor (%) |
50% NdPr Separation (US$) |
0% NdPr Separation (US$) |
100% NdPr Separation (US$) |
|
Earthworks |
20 |
6 384 608 |
5 318 648 |
6 672 952 |
|
Civil Works |
35 |
11 173 064 |
9 307 633 |
11 677 666 |
|
Plant Infrastructure - Buildings |
5 |
1 596 152 |
1 329 662 |
1 668 238 |
|
Buildings |
- |
14 974 955 |
14 974 955 |
14 974 955 |
|
Structural Steel |
13 |
4 149 995 |
3 457 121 |
4 337 419 |
|
Platework (Tanks) |
- |
2 594 476 |
2 358 606 |
2 718 396 |
|
Machinery and Equipment |
100 |
31 923 039 |
26 593 238 |
33 364 761 |
|
Piping |
20 |
6 384 608 |
5 318 648 |
6 672 952 |
|
Valves |
15 |
4 788 456 |
3 988 986 |
5 004 714 |
|
Electricals |
35 |
11 173 064 |
9 307 633 |
11 677 666 |
|
Instrumentation |
15 |
4 788 456 |
3 988 986 |
5 004 714 |
|
Commissioning Spares |
1 |
319 230 |
265 932 |
333 648 |
|
Transport |
10 |
3 192 304 |
2 659 324 |
3 336 476 |
|
Vendor Services |
3 |
957 691 |
797 797 |
1 000 943 |
|
Plant First Fills (Lubricants Only) |
1.5 |
478 846 |
398 899 |
500 471 |
|
TOTAL DIRECT FIELD COSTS |
|
104 878 942 |
90 066 068 |
108 945 973 |
|
Control and Instrumentation Construction |
45 |
2 154 805 |
1 795 044 |
2 252 121 |
|
Electrical Construction |
45 |
5 027 879 |
4 188 435 |
5 254 950 |
|
TBP |
- |
474 416 |
446 645 |
502 187 |
|
Diluent |
- |
65 798 |
61 946 |
69 649 |
|
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning |
- |
1 764 706 |
1 764 706 |
1 764 706 |
|
Laboratory Equipment |
- |
649 733 |
649 733 |
649 733 |
|
Two-Year Spares |
- |
1 596 152 |
1 329 662 |
1 668 238 |
|
Strategic Spares |
- |
1 915 382 |
1 595 594 |
2 001 886 |
|
Structural, Mechanical, Platework and Piping Construction |
45 |
32 446 086 |
28 670 377 |
33 494 476 |
|
Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management |
13 |
19 626 607 |
16 973 867 |
20 358 509 |
|
TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS |
|
65 721 563 |
57 476 009 |
68 016 454 |
|
TOTAL DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS |
|
170 600 506 |
147 542 077 |
176 962 427 |
|
Contingency |
20 |
34 120 101 |
29 508 415 |
35 392 485 |
|
TOTAL COSTS |
|
204 720 607 |
177 050 492 |
212 354 912 |
Financial metrics for the three NdPr separation options are summarised in the following table.
|
Description |
50% NdPr Separation
|
0% NdPr Separation
|
100% NdPr Separation
|
|
Total Plant Capex (US$) |
204 720 607 |
177 050 492 |
212 354 912 |
|
Total Plant Opex (US$/yr) |
28 509 953 |
27 342 461 |
28 699 135 |
|
OPEX (US$/kg REO in Feed) |
2 123 |
2 036 |
2 137 |
|
NPV (US$m) |
659.6 |
563.2 |
779.1 |
|
IRR - Nominal (%) |
36.6 |
36.2 |
39.7 |
|
IRR - Real (%) |
33.2 |
32.9 |
36.3 |
Qualified Persons
An NI 43-101 Technical Report supporting the DFS is being prepared by SENET under the guidance of Mr. Philemon Bundo, who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The Qualified Person at SENET has relied on other Qualified Persons (who are specialists in their respective fields) for their respective portions of the DFS. The Qualified Person at SENET has reviewed the sections completed by others and has found no reason not to accept their work.
Scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to Geology, Mineral Resource Estimate and Geotechnical Investigation has been approved and verified by Mr. Jeremy Witley Pr. Sci Nat of The MSA Group Pty Ltd, who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.
Scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the Mineral Resource Estimate has been approved and verified by Dr. Scott Swinden PGeo of Swinden Geoscience Consultants Ltd who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.
The Mineral Reserve calculation was completed by Bara under the supervision of Mr. Clive Brown, who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.
The tailings storage facility (TSF) study was completed by Epoch Resources under the supervision of Mr. Guy Wiid, who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.
The ESHIA study was completed by Digby Wells under the supervision of Mr. Graham Trusler, who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.
The process design and cost estimation as well as the design and cost estimation for the infrastructure associated with the integrated processing plant for the DFS was completed by SENET under the supervision of Mr. Philemon Bundo who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.
Scientific and technical information contained in this news release in relation to metallurgical test work has been approved and verified by Mr. Philemon Bundo, who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.
Market Intelligence contained in this news release in relation to the rare earth element market was completed by Adamas Intelligence Inc and has been approved and verified by Mr. Trevor Mills of Dahrouge Geological Consultant USA Ltd., who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.
The NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report in respect of the results of the DFS regarding Songwe described herein will be filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ within the next 45 days.
The design and cost estimation for the Puławy PFS was completed by PRODEO Consulting under the supervision of Mr. Nick Dempers, who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.
Independence of Qualified Persons
All of the Qualified Persons referred to in this news release are independent of Mkango.
SENET commissioned an independent review of the Songwe DCF model prepared by MKAR, which underpins the Songwe financial analysis. Fraser McGill conducted an assessment focused on internal consistency, transparency, and the reasonableness of the key economic drivers and sensitivities. The review concluded that the model captures the principal revenue and cost components required to generate project cash flows, and that the economic outputs reported are internally coherent within the stated assumptions. No material deficiencies or major red flags were identified that would undermine the economic conclusions.
About Mkango Resources Ltd.
Mkango is listed on the AIM and the TSX-V Stock Exchanges. Mkango's corporate strategy is to become a market leader in the production of recycled rare earth magnets, alloys and oxides, through its interest in Maginito, which is owned 79.4 per cent by Mkango and 20.6 per cent by CoTec, and to develop new sustainable sources of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium to supply accelerating demand from electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean energy technologies.
Maginito holds a 100 per cent interest in HyProMag Limited and a 90 per cent direct and indirect interest (assuming conversion of Maginito's convertible loan) in HyProMag GmbH, focused on short loop rare earth magnet recycling in the UK and Germany, respectively, and a 100 per cent interest in Mkango Rare Earths UK Ltd ("Mkango UK"), focused on long loop rare earth magnet recycling in the UK via a chemical route.
Mkango currently owns 100% of the advanced stage Songwe Hill rare earths project in Malawi and the proposed Puławy rare earths separation plant in Poland. Both the Songwe and Puławy projects have been selected as Strategic Projects under the European Union Critical Raw Materials Act. As disclosed in a news release dated 3 July 2025 and which can be located on Mkango's SEDAR+_profile, Mkango signed a Business Combination Agreement with Crown PropTech Acquisitions to list the Songwe Hill and Puławy rare earths projects on NASDAQ via a SPAC Merger under the name Mkango Rare Earths Limited.
For more information, please visit www.mkango.ca
For further information on Mkango, please contact:
Mkango Resources Limited
William Dawes Alexander Lemon
Chief Executive Officer President
will@mkango.ca alex@mkango.ca
Canada: +1 403 444 5979
www.mkango.ca
@MkangoResources
Montfort Communications
Nick Miles, Ann-marie Wilkinson, Jack Hickman
UK: +44 20 3514 0897
mkango@montfort.london
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
Jeff Keating, Jen Clarke, Devik Mehta
UK: +44 20 3470 0470
Alternative Resource Capital
Joint Broker
Alex Wood, Keith Dowsing
UK: +44 (020) 4530 9160/77
H&P Advisory Limited
Joint Broker
Andrew Chubb, Leif Powis, Jay Ashfield
UK: +44 20 7907 8500
Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and FOFI
The forward-looking statements in this news release also include financial outlooks and other forward-looking metrics relating to Mkango, Songwe Hill and Puławy, including references to: financial and business prospects; future results of operations, performance and cash flows (including anticipated NPV, IRR and payback); estimated capital and operating costs; and expected revenue, returns, production figures and other economic results relating to Songwe Hill and Puławy. Such information, which may be considered future oriented financial information or financial outlooks within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "FOFI"), has been approved by management of Mkango and is based on assumptions which management believes were reasonable on the date such FOFI was prepared, having regard to the industry, business, financial conditions, plans and prospects of Mkango, including the Songwe DFS and the Puławy PFS. FOFI related to Songwe Hill is subject to the requirements of NI 43-101. The purpose of FOFI related to Puławy is to describe the prospective performance of Puławy based on the PFS, which may be used in connection with sourcing financing to construct Puławy. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Further, such information is highly subjective and should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results and actual results may differ significantly from such projections. FOFI constitutes forward-looking statements and is subject to the same assumptions, uncertainties, risk factors and qualifications as set forth below.
This news release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of that term under applicable securities laws) with respect to Mkango. Generally, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "targeted", "plans", "expects" or "is expected to", "scheduled", "estimates" "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "can", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will", occur or be achieved, or the negative connotations thereof. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include but are not limited to: Mkango becoming a future supplier of mined rare earths, life-of-mine of Songwe Hill, cash flow projections, potential to increase mine life given additional inferred resources, annual processing capacity, assumed commodity prices and forecasting, exchange rates, construction of Puławy, proposed plant throughput for Puławy, projected process recovery rates, sustaining costs and proposed operating costs, assumptions about closure costs and closure requirements, assumptions about environmental, permitting and social risks. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such factors and risks include, without limiting the foregoing, the availability of (or delays in obtaining) financing to develop Songwe Hill and the proposed Puławy separation plant in Poland, the ability to secure and maintain valid mining rights, permits and licenses in respect of Songwe and Puławy, the ability to obtain feedstock for Puławy from sources other than Songwe, changes to costs of production from what is assumed, unrecognised environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, unexpected variations in process throughput, grade or recovery rates, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, changes to assumptions as to the availability of electrical power and the power rates used in the operating cost estimates and financial analysis, ability to maintain the social licence to operate, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the industry, changes to interest rates, changes to tax rates, ability to secure offtake and supply agreements with GOP, the potential for the owner of the land on which the proposed Puławy plant is to be built terminating the lease, the ability of Polska to obtain the necessary permits to construct the proposed Puławy plant, governmental action and other market effects on global demand and pricing for the metals and associated downstream products for which Mkango is exploring, researching and developing, geological, technical and regulatory matters relating to the development of Songwe Hill and the separation plant in Poland, the ability of the Company to enter into agreements with customers to purchase the planned output and delivery of MREC and separated rare earth oxides, the risk that Mkango will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due, competition from existing and new competitors, the growth of existing and emerging uses for MREC and separated rare earth oxides, an increase in the global supply of rare earth oxides or dumping, predatory pricing and other tactics by the Company's competitors, the ability to obtain the necessary approvals from the government of Malawi to sell the MREC, political and economic uncertainty in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the impact of the recently commenced war in the Middle East. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other securities of the Company in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within the United States except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
[1] Recent REO price movements have driven Nd & Pr oxide prices to levels broadly aligned with Adamas Intelligence's Q4 2025 base case pricing report for 2028 and upside case for 2030-2031, providing support for the forecast scenario.
[2] The OPEX estimate was developed to the level of accuracy required for an AACE Class 4 estimate (an overall weighted accuracy of ±25%). The OPEX estimate has a base date of 25 February 2026, with no provision for escalation.
[3] The CAPEX estimate was developed to the level of accuracy required for an AACE Class 4 estimate (an overall weighted accuracy of ±25%). The CAPEX estimate has a base date of 25 February 2026, with no provision for escalation.
[4] Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) - Class 4 Estimate has an overall weighted accuracy of ±25%.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
Latest directors dealings
- 13 hours ago Savannah Energy
- 14 hours ago Buccaneer Energy PLC
- 14 hours ago Savannah Energy
- 14 hours ago Carclo
- 15 hours ago Schroder Japan Growth Fund