Globe Metals & Mining (GBE) has completed an advanced payment to Project Affected Persons to households affected by a decision to mine at the Kanyika Niobium Project in Malawi.
Currently, Globe is targeting a decision to mine by the end of 2022, with the relocation of Project Affected Persons in the first quarter of 2023, once notice has been given. Those affected by the decision were identified in a formal assessment that was undertaken by the Mzimba District Commissioner’s Office in consultation with the traditional authorities and Malawi government during 2012.
Advance payments were made during December 2021 and January 2022, with money being direct debited to a bank account nominated by each household. Of 239 households identified as being eligible to receive the advance payment, 235 accepted payments, resulting in a total payment by Globe of 57.7 million Malawian kwacha (A$90,000).
Kanyika Niobium Project
The payment was facilitated by a series of community meetings, which involved the heads of the village and other traditional authorities, representatives of non-government organisations and those affected directly. Globe said the payments are part of an ongoing process by Globe to forget better and stronger relationships with the Kanyika community.
The Kanyika Niobium Project in will produce high purity niobium pentoxide and tantalum pentoxide powders. Drilling programs totalling 33.8 kilometres of percussion and core drilling have confirmed the extent of mineralisation. Structured and progressive engineering studies have resulted in the current (JORC 2012) resource statement and given rise to significant improvements and simplifications in the process flowsheet, from that first imagined.
The Kanyika operations will produce a pyrochlore mineral concentrate that contains both niobium and tantalum in commercially valuable volumes to be shipped to a refinery for advanced processing into high purity materials.
