File photo: Moma village, Nampula Province. Photo: MJEHermann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mozambique · Critical Minerals · 23 October 2026

Kenmare Resources, which runs the Moma titanium mine in northern Mozambique, is studying a new product, monazite concentrate, of up to 4,000 tonnes a year. Monazite contains rare earths used in magnets for electric vehicles and wind turbines, so the plan touches a supply chain that US industry wants less dependent on China.

What Kenmare Plans

The company’s third-quarter production report of 15 October 2026 said a pre-feasibility study indicated up to 4,000 tonnes a year of monazite concentrate, made from the mineral-sands ore at Moma. Kenmare is incorporated in Ireland and listed in London and Dublin.

Kenmare’s Gareth Clifton described the plan at a conference on adding value to minerals in Nacala, according to the Club of Mozambique on 23 October. He said the study had turned out positive and that Kenmare intends to start the licensing process with the government.

How Long It Would Take

A definitive feasibility study, the full engineering and cost review, could take up to a year, according to Kenmare. First production would come about two years after a decision to proceed.

On that timetable, output would be unlikely before about 2029. Kenmare describes the capital needed as low, but has not given a cost figure.

Roads, Rain and Radioactivity

Clifton named logistics as the main obstacle. Degraded roads and long rainy seasons could disrupt the haul from Nampula Province to the port of Nacala.

Monazite is a naturally occurring radioactive material, so it needs special approvals and transport controls. Kenmare does not yet have dedicated equipment to move it, and Clifton said the company cannot afford to be stranded for three or four months a year without shipping containers.

The Mine and a Disputed Agreement

Kenmare has run the Moma mine since 2007, and it supplies about 6% of the world’s titanium feedstock. Titanium minerals are the mine’s main business, and the monazite would be a side product of the same ore.

On 19 October, Mozambique’s government announced a deal on the mine’s operating terms after a long dispute, which we reported at the time. Kenmare said on 20 October that it could not yet confirm the agreement because it had received no official communication, reported Miningmx.

What It Means for US Readers

Rare earths from monazite go into permanent magnets, which makes supply outside China a stated priority for US industry. This project is at an early stage, with no buyer named and no investment decision taken.

The route from Moma to market also matters, because transport rules for radioactive material could add cost. Investors should treat the plan as a study, not a project.

What Is Not Known

No licence, permit or government approval for the monazite project has been reported. Kenmare has not announced a final investment decision, a cost, or the buyers of the product.

The exact route, the shipping arrangements and the processing design are not public. Whether the 19 October agreement is now final also remains open on Kenmare’s side.

Sources

Kenmare Q3 2026 Production Report, 15 Oct 2026 · Club of Mozambique · Miningmx, 20 Oct 2026 · Miningmx, 15 Oct 2026

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kenmare planning in Mozambique?

Kenmare Resources is studying a monazite concentrate of up to 4,000 tonnes a year at its Moma titanium mine. It has not taken an investment decision.

Why is monazite important?

Monazite contains rare earths such as neodymium and praseodymium. They are used in magnets for electric vehicles and wind turbines.

When could production start?

A full feasibility study may take up to a year, and first production would follow about two years after a go-ahead. That points to about 2029 at the earliest.

What are the main obstacles?

Kenmare names logistics first, including poor roads and rainy seasons. Monazite is also mildly radioactive, so it needs special transport and approvals.