Go west for critical materials
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Go west for critical materials
As the race for critical materials intensifies South Africa is in the spotlight.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine
On the windswept west coast of South Africa, there are two mining operations of global significance that are not always talked about enough when referring to critical materials.
Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (SMM) close to Vanrhynsdorp in the Namaqualand region has already drawn the attention of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and several international investors. As the mine continuous ramping up, more are standing in the queue.
This unique and high-grade Rare Earth Element (REE) and thorium deposit in the Namaqualand-Bushmanland Belt is primarily linked to ancient magmatic and metamorphic processes that occurred around 1.2–1.0 billion years ago during the Namaqua-Natal Orogeny (mountain-building event). The REEs became concentrated in pegmatites, granitic intrusions, and carbonatites.
Although these concentrations were not the result of river flow, modern and ancient drainage systems, including tributaries of the Orange River, influenced secondary enrichment and dispersion through weathering and erosion which can liberate REE-bearing minerals (like monazite and bastnäsite) from old pegmatites.
Gearing up at Steenkampskraal
It takes almost 1000 steps on a stepladder to the bottom of the shaft at SMM. To get down there, is reasonably easy, even with all the safety gear, backpacks, camera’s, voice recorders, drinking water and notebooks. To get back up is a different kettle of fish.
The WhyAfrica team had our work cut out for us when we ventured down this historic mine during the recent WhyAfrica Road Trip. When we were there, SMM was in full refurbishment mode.
Work was in full swing at the mine and production at the mini pilot plant was imminent. Graham Soden, CEO of SMM told us on site during an interview that the mine is uniquely positioned with advanced development, allowing for immediate production and cash flow within two years.
In a unique position
“The project boasts a high-grade ore body, a 15-to-16-year production lifespan, and a cost-effective operation due to its high REE content. We’re in a unique position in that most of the mine development has already been done,” Soden said.
It usually takes more than six years to bring a greenfields project into cash positive territory. SMM’s easy access to the ore body via fantastic old infrastructure means it will take them only two to three years. This makes SMM really an advanced brownfields project.
What makes SMM so exciting though is that the mine will produce a higher-grade product than any other REE mine in Africa and that Soden and his team will bring it into production within a very short period.
The mine was operated by Anglo American producing monazite concentrate from about 1952 to 1963 before it became dormant for decades due to low demand for thorium and REEs. SMM was awarded the mining right to develop the deposit in 2010.
Earlier this year, SMM secured funding from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to move the operation into the next gear.
Recently SMM set out a six-phase production plan following confirmation of receipt of the first tranche of funding from the IDC.
The Six phase production plan
Phase 1 of monazite concentrate production will involve the construction of a concentration plant (the current IDC funding focus) and the production of high-grade monazite concentrate containing more than 50% Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO).
This first phase represents the foundation upon which the entire value chain will be built, with the concentrate serving as feedstock for all subsequent processing steps.
Phase 2 will entail production of cerium- and lanthanum-depleted mixed rare earth carbonate and the implementation of proven technology from Chimerical Technology. It is the first step in the downstream value-addition process.
By removing cerium and lanthanum (the most abundant but least valuable rare earths), this phase significantly increases the value of the remaining product.
During Phase 3 REE separation will take place implementing magneto-electrochemical separation processes with a proposed partnership with the Remedy Group and on-site or near-site processing to retain value domestically.
In Phase 4 rare earth fluorides will be produced through a patented process and there is a proposed partnership with Rare Earth Refiners on the table. This is further advancement in the value chain toward end-use products.
The fluorination process transforms separated rare earth compounds into forms more readily used in specific industrial applications.
Phase 5 of metallisation will entail on-site or near-site metallisation capabilities with discussions under way with global reduction companies. This would provide significant value addition through advanced processing.
Metallisation converts rare earth compounds into pure metals, which command premium prices in industrial markets.
Phase 6 of end-product manufacturing will entail the production of separated end-products and discussions with global REE product manufacturers.
The sixth phase will complete SMM’s vertical integration from mine to market,” said Soden.
“This final phase represents the ultimate goal of full value chain integration, enabling South Africa to capture maximum economic benefit from its REE resources.
“This milestone marks a turning point in Steenkampskraal’s history to establish itself as a reliable global supplier of REEs, essential for the technologies driving the green transition and advanced industries,” said Soden.
Once operational, the plant will continually deliver a high-grade monazite concentrate containing more than 50% TREO, positioning South Africa among the elite producers of critical minerals,” he added.
In addition to REES, the Steenkampskraal deposit offers valuable by-products that further enhance its economic potential. A notable development in this area is the partnership with Thor Medical, which is working with SMM and select local funders to conclude agreements that will enable the business to progress with harvesting Radium-228 for medical applications.
The WhyAfrica team visited Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine on the 14th day of the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip.
The Kropz Elandsfontein phosphate project
Phosphate mining has been taking place on the west coast of South Africa since 1958 when a company called Chemfos started a small-scale mining operation close to Langebaan.
Chemfos operated the mine for forty years and today the mine offices have been converted into a display centre that hosts the West Coast Fossil Park. The fossil-rich parts of the old pit have been cordoned off and marked.
Soon after mining started in 1958 a mine employee collected some fossils in the shallow pit and showed them to visiting palaeontologist. It was a great find. The mining operation exposed what would later become one of the world’s most prolific sources of late Tertiary vertebrate fossils.
Because of geology, climate change and sea-level movement over the last 24-million years, the area in and around Langebaan has also become a prolific source of phosphate.
The phosphate on the West Coast is used primarily as feedstock for soil fertilisers in agriculture. South Africa processes about 2.3 million tonnes of phosphate rock annually (2.3% of global production).
WhyAfrica visits Elandsfontein
WhyAfrica visited Kropz’s Elandsfontein phosphate mine near Hopefield on day 16 of the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip.
Elandsfontein is a key strategic resource for both local agriculture and international markets. The mine provides a vital supply of phosphate concentrate, a critical ingredient in fertiliser production, which underpins global food security.
Elandsfontein is significant not only for its scale and output but also for its potential to reduce South Africa’s reliance on imported fertilisers, strengthening the agricultural sector and contributing to food sustainability.
The operation has been designed with a focus on environmental responsibility, employing modern processing techniques and water conservation measures to minimise impact on the surrounding sensitive ecosystems, including the Langebaan Lagoon, part of a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve.
Phosphate a critical material
When we talk about critical materials, phosphate is usually not mentioned.
Yet, phosphate has been classified as a critical raw material by the European Union (EU), meaning that it is essential for food security and industrial supply chains.
Phosphorous is an essential nutrient for crops, and Europe has limited deposits, so they rely on imports.
A lot of Europe’s phosphate is imported from Africa. Italy for example, sources most of its phosphate from Egypt and Morocco. In fact, Morocco holds 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves.
Other African countries that produce significant phosphate includes Egypt (second biggest supplier), Senegal, Togo and South Africa.
Another star on the horizon is Minbos Resources’ Cabinda project in Angola.
However, on South Africa’s west coast Elandsfontein has quietly emerged as one of the continent’s most intriguing mineral stories.
It’s interesting to note that Elandsfontein’s product fulfils many of the EU’s strict requirements, although at this stage, it is not one of Elandsfontein’s largest off takers.
Globally, phosphate supply is dominated by Morocco, China and Russia, giving Elandsfontein strategic relevance as one of only a handful of new producers in sub-Saharan Africa.
The deposit, South Africa’s second-largest phosphate reserve, provides a measure of regional autonomy in a market often distorted by export controls and logistics bottlenecks.
Keep in mind that Kropz also hold a license to mine phosphate at Hinda in the Republic of Congo (RoC) that is believed to be one of the world’s largest undeveloped sedimentary hosted phosphate reserves.
Kropz uses open-pit mining combined with progressive rehabilitation at Elandsfontein and extracts ore from shallow marine sediments with minimal blasting, reducing its environmental footprint in a sensitive coastal ecosystem.
The ore is beneficiated on site through flotation, producing a high-grade concentrate for export and potential local use.
Go west for critical materials