• Sovereign Metals signs MoU with ESCOM to secure hydropower for Kasiya project
• Initial energy demand set at 30 MW, rising to 60 MW by year six
• Mine expected to produce 233,000 t of graphite and 222,000 t of rutile annually

Australian mining company Sovereign Metals aims to secure up to 60 MW of hydropower for its Kasiya rutile and graphite project in Malawi. The company announced on May 21 a memorandum of understanding with Malawi's public electricity company, ESCOM, to fuel the development of its project.

The memorandum sets forth the negotiation of a Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with ESCOM to meet the electricity demand of the future mine, which is expected to amount to 30 MW during its initial phase of operation. Sovereign anticipates that consumption will incrementally rise, reaching 60 MW by the sixth operational year.

Kasiya is Sovereign Metals' first graphite and rutile project in Africa. According to the company, the mine should annually produce 233,000 tons of flake graphite and 222,000 tons of rutile over a lifespan of 25 years. The effort to secure power supply is part of the process as a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the project is expected by the end of 2025.

No details have been released regarding the power supply contract Sovereign plans to negotiate with ESCOM. A final agreement is expected by June 30, 2026, the expiry date of the memorandum of understanding. Both parties have the option of mutually agreeing to extend this deadline for an additional 12 months.