ERMA Supports Mkango Resources' Pulawy Rare Earth Separation Plant in Poland

European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) recently announced that it will support Mkango Resources Ltd. in securing financing for the development of a rare earth separation plant in Puławy, Poland. The plant will receive rare earth carbonates from Mkango's Songwe Hill primary deposit of rare earth elements located in Malawi, Africa. The plant will also be able to process additional material from third-party suppliers and thus is expected to become a future European center for rare earth element separation.

The Puławy project will help establish a secure supply chain option for the EU for neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. All of these rare earth elements are critical to the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other clean energy applications, and are key to Europe's green agenda.

ERMA's main role is to secure raw materials and raw material supply chains in Europe to support the industrial ecosystem and create jobs within the EU," said Dr. Massimo Gasparon, Director of the alliance. “We can't do this alone, which is why diversification is so critical. This is a multi-country project where we have a Canadian partner, Mkango Resources, obtaining key raw materials in Malawi, Africa, and processing them at a plant in Poland, all processes for the benefit of the European economy. The Puławy project is one of the first projects to provide the key raw materials needed to achieve the goals of Europe's green transition while diversifying the supply chain over the long term."

William Dawes, CEO of Mkango Resources, said, "We look forward to supporting our partners in Europe and creating a more diverse raw materials value chain. The support of ERMA has always been important to us and we are pleased to be part of its vast network of leading companies in the raw materials sector. ERMA's fundamental principles fit well with the vision and philosophy of Mkango's Puławy separation plant and Songwe Mountain deposit in Malawi."

This week, Mkango announced that the final phase of hydrometallurgical trials at the Songwe Mountain Rare Earth Project in Malawi at ANSTO has successfully produced rare earth carbonates with 55% total rare earth oxides (TREO) enriched with neodymium and praseodymium (Nd / Pr) oxides, which together make up 31% of the rare earth carbonate product (i.e., Nd / Pr oxides / TREO = 31%). Neodymium and praseodymium are key components of permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and many electronic devices.

Metals, minerals, and advanced materials are key enablers of a globally competitive, green, and digital Europe. ERMA is committed to ensuring reliable, secure, and sustainable access to raw materials. The alliance's vision is to ensure access to critical and strategic raw materials, advanced materials, and processing technologies for the EU industrial ecosystem.

Mkango Resources Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company listed on the UK and Canadian stock exchanges. The Company is developing the Songwe Hill rare earth project in Malawi, with a feasibility study nearing completion, and the Pulawy rare earth separation plant in Poland in partnership with Grupa Azoty PULAWY, a leading Polish chemical company and the second-largest manufacturer of nitrogen and compound fertilizers in the European Union. Through its 42% strategic interest in HyProMag, Mkango is also developing rare earth magnet recovery projects in the UK and Germany.

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