Alluvial gold mineralization and kimberlitic anomalies in the country have also been reported in recent years by the Department of Geological Survey. In 2015, Malawi completed a high resolution country-wide airborne geophysical survey, the results of which reveal potential for discovery of a lot more mineral occurrences. Availability of such data is ostensibly going to increase opportunities for mineral exploration and mining activities.
36 Exploration Licences were issued for uranium, rutile/titanium, platinum group metals, limestone gold, iron ore and gypsum. Two Mining Licences were issued for rock aggregate and galena.
A number of both international and local companies were actively engaged in exploration for various minerals. These minerals included niobium and tantalum by Globe metals and Mining, rare earth minerals, niobium, uranium, limestone and heavy mineral sands (rutile and ilmenite). The major projects being pursued are cement production by Bwanje Cement Company in Ntcheu, Tengani Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Nsanje for rutile and ilmenite, Mkango Resources Rare Earth Elements Project in Phalombe, Mawei Mining Limited Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Mangochi and Sovereign Metals Limited for graphite and rutile in Lilongwe.
The country is geared to be a significant exporter of niobium, rare earths (lanthanides), graphite and rutile. Globe Metals and Mining continue to negotiate for a Mining Development Agreement for production of niobium concentrate.
Employment in the minerals sector is in coal mining, cement manufacturing, lime production, artisanal and small scale mining of stone aggregate, and lime totalling about 14,000. Other sectors such as exploration, and gemstone mining contributed about 3,500 employees.