Tembo urges caution on Kangankunde debate

Growing concerns over the Kangankunde Rare Earth Project in Balaka have pushed government to call for a more informed public debate on the country’s mining activities.

Mining Minister Thoko Tembo said some of the fears surrounding the project are linked to a lack of understanding of mineral exploration processes, urging Malawians to seek proper information before drawing conclusions.

Tembo made the remarks in Parliament on Friday while explaining why large quantities of mineral samples are required during rare earth exploration and testing at the Balaka-based project.

The minister said mining is a technical process that requires proper understanding, particularly when dealing with rare earth minerals, where valuable elements are often found in very small concentrations within large volumes of rock.

“Most of the questions that have been raised pertain to a lack of information that, as people, we have. So sometimes we tend to want to act in a manner because we have not got the relevant information for us to act,” Tembo said.

He explained that a truckload of mined material may contain only a small percentage of actual rare earth elements, making it necessary for companies to collect large samples for laboratory analysis and assessment.

Tembo said the size of samples should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing, as exploration requires sufficient material to determine the quality and quantity of mineral deposits.

The minister, however, assured Parliament that all samples exported from the project were done under regulatory approvals for laboratory testing, analysis, and technical purposes.

He said government will continue monitoring activities at Kangankunde through relevant institutions to ensure compliance with Malawi’s mining laws.

Tembo said improving public understanding of the mining sector is important to enable informed decisions and ensure the country gains maximum benefits from its mineral resources.