Sovereign Metals Reports Positive Rehabilitation Results at Kasiya Rutile Graphite Project in Malawi

Sovereign Metals Ltd has released results from rehabilitation trials at its Kasiya rutile-graphite project in Malawi, reporting substantial improvements in agricultural productivity and community engagement as part of its broader definitive feasibility study (DFS) programme.

The company’s second year of pilot mining, backfilling and rehabilitation trials is approaching completion ahead of the forthcoming harvest season. The trials are designed to demonstrate the viability of returning mined land to productive use and form a critical component of the DFS, which is being advanced under the supervision of the Sovereign-Rio Tinto technical committee.

Empirical data collected from the programme has been incorporated into mine closure and rehabilitation plans, which the company states will assist in de-risking the DFS and ensuring compliance with international environmental and social standards necessary for project financing.

Managing director and chief executive Frank Eagar noted that the programme’s outcomes underscore both the technical and social dimensions of the project. He stated that Sovereign’s primary objective is to deliver sustainable returns for all stakeholders, including shareholders and local communities, and that the success of the pilot mining and rehabilitation trial provides empirical support for DFS accuracy whilst demonstrating the potential to improve agricultural productivity on rehabilitated land.

The rehabilitation trials have produced a considerable increase in agricultural output. First-year maize yields reached 5.2 tonnes per hectare, approximately five times the regional average of 1 tonne per hectare. Sovereign indicated that this demonstrates the capacity of rehabilitated land to achieve superior productivity compared with pre-mining conditions, where soil fertility typically declines over time.

The programme employs relatively straightforward and low-impact techniques, including the application of lime, fertiliser and biochar, alongside a no-tillage approach designed to preserve soil structure. Activities are conducted largely by hand, with no heavy machinery permitted on rehabilitated land, which makes the model accessible for adoption by local communities over the long term.

Second-year crop yields are expected to align with the first-year benchmark when harvested in mid-2026, reinforcing confidence in the repeatability of the results. The trials have also evolved into a diversified multi-cropping system, combining maize with bamboo, winter beans, groundnuts and fodder crops. Sovereign noted that the intercropping approach supports year-round productivity whilst improving soil health and providing a broader mix of food and income sources for local farmers.

Beyond technical outcomes, the programme has facilitated stronger engagement with local communities. Twenty-eight participating farmers are now seeking to formalise a farming co-operative supported by Sovereign. The proposed co-operative is expected to play a central role in the project’s post-closure social transition strategy, enabling communities to continue agricultural activities on rehabilitated land after mining operations cease.

Sovereign stated that this development represents a strong endorsement of the programme’s value and demonstrates the potential for long-term economic benefits beyond the mine life. The company plans to continue working with local farmers through 2026 to refine and scale the model across the broader Kasiya project area as development progresses.

The rehabilitation outcomes also support Sovereign’s recently announced collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, which is assisting with the integration of IFC Performance Standards into the DFS and environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA). Sovereign stated that the multi-year dataset provides irrefutable empirical evidence of alignment with international standards, a key requirement for securing development finance.

The latest update builds on a series of recent milestones at Kasiya, including a major resource upgrade and offtake and marketing agreements for both rutile and graphite products. The company is working towards positioning the project as a globally significant, low-cost source of critical minerals.

With DFS work advancing and rehabilitation outcomes now validated in the field, Sovereign is increasingly focused on demonstrating both the economic and sustainability credentials of Kasiya as it moves towards development.