Steenkampskraal monazite mine and Mintek, South Africa’s national mineral research organisation, have produced what they describe as high-purity mixed rare earth material at Mintek’s laboratory facilities, marking a step towards planned commercial production from the Western Cape later this year.
Steenkampskraal said the laboratory work is the basis of planned commercial production of rare earth products in South Africa before the end of 2026. Longer-term plans include rare earth separation, thorium beneficiation and medical isotope production.
The milestone positions South Africa as the first African country to produce rare earth products through a partnership between a mining company and a national research institution, said Steenkampskraal Executive Chairman Enock Mathebula.
The mine was brought out of care and maintenance in 2024 after receiving approvals from the National Nuclear Regulator and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, according to Steenkampskraal.
Full funding for the phase 1 metallurgical processing plant has been secured through the Industrial Development Corporation and construction is underway with commissioning scheduled for August, Steenkampskraal added.
Steenkampskraal expects concentrate production to begin later this year with first shipments before the end of 2026.
Laboratory work combines Mintek’s mineral processing expertise with Steenkampskraal’s rare earth and thorium resource, said Mintek CEO Molefi Motuku.
“Mintek’s expertise, combined with Steenkampskraal’s world-class resource, has proven that South Africa possesses not only the minerals but also the scientific capability to compete globally in critical minerals processing.”
The work also intends to support longer-term rare earth and thorium beneficiation, including possible applications in nuclear technology development and medical uses, said South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) Group CEO Loyiso Tyabashe.
“NECSA is ready to collaborate on the back of its expertise to capture and develop the opportunity presented in the high-end value chain of rare earth and thorium products as part of our mandate in nuclear technology development for general industry and medical applications.”
Discussions and development work are underway on establishing rare earth separation capability in South Africa, Mathebula said.
Steenkampskraal is a rare earth element and thorium deposit in the Western Cape. Anglo American opened the mine in 1952 and historically extracted thorium for international nuclear energy programmes before it was placed on care and maintenance.
