Steenkampskraal a step closer to production

Steenkampskraal a step closer to production   

Steenkampskraal is another step closer to restarting their Monazite mine in South Africa.

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has accepted Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine’s (SMM’s) latest Authorisation Change Request.

This means that a recent request submitted by SMM has been updated on the existing authorisation license.

The request included a safety assessment specifically focused on ensuring the health and safety of future workers involved in the design and production activities. This is part of the regulatory process to maintain safe working conditions around nuclear or radiological operations.

Moving closer to active production

According to Enock Mathebula, Chairman of SMM, the authorisation allows SMM to now formally engage its turn-key processing and mining contractors to proceed with the design, procurement and manufacturing phases of the project.

“The approval reflects the company’s continued commitment to ensuring the highest standards of worker safety and operational readiness as the mine moves closer to active production,” says Mathebula.

“Since the decision to bring the mine out of care and maintenance, and dormancy status during early 2024, SMM has been involved in a concerted drive to remain fully compliant on all legislative levels in both the mining and radiation management sectors, and to this end numerous Authorisation Change Requests have been submitted and accepted by the NNR,” says Graham Soden, CEO of SMM.

Interest from investors and off takers  

“The authorisations have allowed the mine to continue with the planning and implementation of numerous critical processes in order to bring the SMM operations back to full production status.

This has sparked keen interest from investors and off takers globally who have been monitoring the progress of the project,” adds Soden.

The approval marks another major milestone in SMM’s strategic roadmap to re-establish Steenkampskraal as a world-class producer of Rare Earth Elements (REE).

With one of the highest-grade REE deposits globally, the Steenkampskraal Mine is positioned to play a vital role in the global supply chain for critical materials used in renewable energy, electric vehicles and high-tech manufacturing.

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Image: Historic underground infrastructure at Steenkampskraal. Image credit: SMM

Steenkampskraal a step closer to production