• COUNTRY IN FOCUS
Energy Fuels has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Madagascar to advance the Toliara mineral sands project for the extraction of monazite, titanium, zirconium and rare earth elements( REE) in southwestern Madagascar.
developed in the main urban areas but becomes less accessible in the rural areas.
Most of the population have access to primary and secondary education, but a limited number of people continue education to tertiary level. This boils down to the country relying heavily on expatriates to perform highly skilled jobs.
Geology Following the breakup of Gondwana, Madagascar split from Africa during the Early Jurassic period, around 180 million years ago. It then separated from the Indian subcontinent approximately 90 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous epoch.
The eastern two thirds of the island of Madagascar are underlain by Precambrian rocks, that were sporadically intruded by later basalt and rhyolite. The western third of the country is composed of two large basins of mid-Paleozoic to Recent characterised by sedimentary rocks.
Mining The mineral resources and mining potential of Madagascar remain under-exploited primarily due to lack of sufficient foreign investment. Madagascar ' s 2023 Mining Code regulates mining activities, including prospecting, exploration and mineral processing. The code aims to promote responsible mining and equitable distribution of benefits.
The revised Mining Code states that when transformation / upgrading of the mined product occurs, within Madagascar, royalty reduces from 5 % to 3.5 %.
Mining operators pay royalties and taxes to the government and local communities. Three government departments are tasked with overseeing the mining sector. The Ministry of Mines and Strategic Resources is the government regulating entity. The Bureau du Cadastre Minier Madagascar( BCMM) manages mining permits. The National Mines Committee( CNM) of the BCMM has oversight powers on mine activities.
Most of the gemstone, gold and mica is produced by artisanal and small-scale miners.
Gold, chromite and graphite are the dominant mineral commodities produced in Madagascar. The country is ranked as the
10th largest producer of chromite, held by Kraomita Malagasy SA( KRAOMA) and the 8th largest producer of cobalt.
Madagascar is richly endowed with semi-precious stones and has been a key exporter of sapphires, from the Ilakaka area – noted as the largest reserve of sapphire globally.
Other mineral deposits include bastnaesite, bauxite and iron ore. Extensive laterite nickel deposits are found along the central eastcoast region. Ambatovy ranks among the largest in the world in the production of nickel and cobalt as a by-product. The operation has however suffered the effects of the downturn in the nickel market in February 2025. This downturn was compounded by plant equipment malfunctions.
Ilmenite-rich beach sands near Toalagnaro( formerly Fort Dauphin) are indicated to contain exploitable quantities of TiO2, but environmental concerns have been raised as it has the potential to destroy 75 % of the coastal forest zone. Energy Fuels has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Madagascar to advance the Toliara mineral sands project for the extraction of monazite, titanium, zirconium and rare earth elements( REE) in southwestern Madagascar. This follows the lifting of the suspension that was imposed on the project in November 2019.
Hydrocarbons have been discovered in the form of natural gas, tar sands, heavy oil and coal, but are indicated to not be economically exploitable now, although several projects are underway to enhance the potential of developing this resource. The most notable coal deposits are in the south, with the Imaloto and Sakarakah Coal projects.
Graphite dominance Madagascar ' s graphite is highly valued for its purity and is a key component in the production of lithium-ion batteries. In 2024 it produced 89 000 metric tonnes of natural graphite. Several large graphite mining operations are active in the country with more exploration projects underway. The start of 2025 saw a challenging graphite market that impacted African graphite producers.
Madagascar has become the new frontier for graphite exploration with graphite projects concentrated in the south of the island. Tirupati Graphite is indicated to remain on track to achieve a production rate from the Vatomina graphite project, in Madagascar, of 600t a month by the end of April, 1 000t a month by July 31 and 1 500t a month by December, 2025. The mine has a solar-hybrid power plant to reduce CO2 emissions.
NextSource also indicated their intension to proceed with the Molo graphite mine ramp-up and expansion project. The company indicated that it is focussing on balancing production with demand to ensure economic viability. The first shipment of coarse flake graphite from Molo was delivered to Germany and the USA in November 2024.
Greenwing Resources announced in February 2025 that it has
The most notable coal deposits are in the south, with the Imaloto and Sakarakah Coal projects.
18 • African Mining • May 2025 www. africanmining. co. za