• Lindian names Zekai Komur to lead Malawi’s First  rare earth project

• $59M raised for Kangankunde mine, production starts late 2026

• Project part of projects under development to diversify global rare earth supply
  

Lindian Resources has appointed Zekai Komur as executive director, the company announced in a note on Monday. Komur, who previously served as a non-executive director, is expected to lead the development of the Kangankunde project, which is poised to become Malawi's first rare earth mine.

"We are delighted with the appointment of Zac Komur as executive director leading both Stage 1 and Stage 2 expansion for our Tier 1 Kangankunde rare earths project," said Lindian Resources Executive Chairman Robert Martin. "Zac brings deep project delivery experience with over 25 years’ experience having executed on landmark projects globally including greenfield and brownfield capacity expansion projects for BHP, Fortescue and INPEX."

The appointment comes weeks after the company raised approximately $59 million to launch the first phase of the Kangankunde project. The funds are earmarked for building a mine with an annual capacity of 15,300 tonnes of rare earth concentrate, with production slated to begin in late 2026. A study on the project's second phase, which could boost annual production to 50,000 tonnes, is currently underway, with results expected by the end of 2025.

Construction on the mine is set to begin in early 2026. Kangankunde is one of several rare earth projects under development in Africa, as other nations aim to challenge China's dominance over the global supply chain for these metals. Earlier this year, Britain's Pensana began construction on the Longonjo project in Angola. Peak Rare Earths is developing the Ngualla project in Tanzania, while Rainbow Rare Earths is active on the Phalaborwa project in South Africa.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou