LOCATION
Malawi is a landlocked country in southeasten Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozabique to the east, southeast and southwest. Malawi spans over 118,484 m2 ( 45,747sq m) and has an estimated population of just over 19 million ( Jan 2021).
The Projects is comprise of several deposits including, Mposa, Bimbi, Halala/Namanja and Mpyopyu.
The Project consists of 2 licences covering a total area of 878.7km2. These licences grant the Company exclusive rights to carry out exploration for Heavy Mineral Sands for a three-year period after being granted, with the option to extend in accordance with section 119 of the Mines and Minerals Act of Malawi
GEOLOGY
Malawi geology is dominated by the East African Rift with Lake Chilwa the most southern major lake associated with the rift valley. Lake Chilwa was formed in a depression created at the base of the back-slope of a listric fault that is part of the rift system. Lake Chilwa is bordered in the east by the Shire Highlands (in Mozambique), in the north by the Mongolwe, Chaone and Chikala Hills and the west by the Malosa and Zomba mountains.
Infrastructure
The Project benefits from the potential to utilise the Nacala rail link with final products transported circa 700km from Liwonde to the Nacala deep water port for export.
This established rail and port infrastructure is key to the prospects for economic development of the Project which minimises the requirement for significant capital expenditure.
The railway line from Liwonde to Nacala has been upgraded and is used to transport coal from Moatize, in Tete province to the new coal terminal at Nacala.
■ The rail is accessible from Zomba via the M3 which is tarred or via route S131 which is a gravel road that runs west of Lake
Chilwa and passes through Domasi and Chibwana.
■ Malawi is a stable and an emerging mining jurisdiction, with a supportive government for mineral extraction.
■ Malawi’s long-term goal is to increase the mineral sector’s contribution to GDP over the coming years.
■ Minerals with economic potential include: Phosphates (apatite), Bauxite, Kaolinitic, Coal, Kyanite, Limestones, Rare Earths
(including Strontianite and Monazite), Graphite, Sulphides (Pyrite and Pyrrhotite), Titanium minerals along the Lakeshore,
and Vermiculite.
■ Chilwa Minerals’ project partner, Mota-Engil, has a deep and long-standing relationship with Malawi government officials and
the local communities.
■ Mota-Engil currently has substantial active EPC / infrastructure operations in Malawi and is capable of providing development
finance for the Project as well as managing the Project operations in the future.
