OREANDA-NEWS. Mkango Resources Ltd., is pleased to provide a corporate update on its corporate social responsibility programmes and review of the airborne geophysical data.

Since the early days of its exploration programmes, Mkango has implemented a number of successful CSR programmes at its Songwe project in Phalombe in order to enrich the lives of the local communities and establish Mkango's social licence to operate. These initiatives have focused on sustainable development aimed at reducing poverty and hunger through enhanced education and the provision of agricultural expertise and modern seed types. We have also adopted a role in sponsoring inter-community social and cultural events.

As Mkango believes in supporting local enterprises, a Malawian film production company, Dikamawoko Arts, directed and filmed the CSR video.

Alexander Lemon, President of Mkango, stated:
"One of Mkango's core principles is to ensure that there will be poverty reduction, improved education and empowerment of previously disadvantaged groups within the communities that we work in. Therefore, it is important for us to implement meaningful, sustainable and successful social responsibility programmes commensurate with the stage of exploration and development."

Following the acquisition of airborne geophysical data covering the majority of the Thambani and Phalombe licences, Mkango is currently analysing the data and will update the market in due course. The main targets in the Thambani licence are uranium, niobium and tantalum, whereas rare earths are the major area of focus in the Phalombe licence.

The analysis incorporates historical datasets and geological information generated by Mkango and from historical exploration.

This regional generative and follow up work complements Mkango's focus on its flagship project, the advanced stage Songwe Hill rare earths project for which a pre-feasibility study was completed in November 2015.

Mkango's primary business is the exploration for rare earth elements and associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi, a country whose hospitable people have earned it a reputation as "the warm heart of Africa". Mkango holds, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lancaster Exploration Limited, a 100% interest in two exclusive prospecting licenses in southern Malawi, the Phalombe and Thambani licences. 

The main exploration target in the Phalombe licence is the Songwe Hill rare earth deposit, which features carbonatite hosted rare earth mineralisation and was subject to previous exploration in the late 1980s and for which Mkango completed an updated Pre-feasibility study in November 2015. The main exploration targets in the Thambani licence are uranium, niobium and tantalum.

Mkango's strategy is to develop sustainable sources of rare earth elements and other minerals geared to growth in the low carbon "green" economy, technology and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.