Steenkampskraal Holdings, which owns the Steenkampskraal monazite mine (SMM), in the Western Cape, reports that the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has accepted the mine's authorisation change request for prospective worker safety assessment for the design and production for surface operations.
“The importance of this NNR acceptance cannot be overstated. It is a pivotal achievement that validates SMM's safety protocols, accelerates its path to production and reinforces its role as a key player in the global rare earth supply chain, especially amid growing demand for these critical rare earth minerals. It also positions SMM as a leader in responsible rare earth mining in South Africa, enhancing its credibility with investors and partners,” says SMM chairperson Enock Mathebula.
“This critical milestone authorises SMM to formally engage its turnkey 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.
“This authorisation represents a pivotal step in our journey to operational readiness. It enables us to transition from planning to physical implementation, while maintaining our unwavering focus on safety, sustainability and strategic execution,” he adds.
Since taking the decision to bring SMM out of care and maintenance in 2024, SMM has submitted various authorisation change requests to the NNR, with these requests having been accepted, SMM CEO Graham Soden points out.
"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 also sparked keen interest from investors and offtakers globally who have been monitoring the progress of the project," he adds. 