After a three-year hiatus, the Steenkampskraal rare earths mine in South Africa’s Western Cape is gearing up to resume operations. Nestled near Vanrhynsdorp, the high-grade monazite mine is set to undergo a year-long reclamation and refurbishment of its infrastructure, according to Enock Mathebula, the executive chair of Steenkampskraal Holdings.

Central to this revival is the construction of a new processing plant, scheduled to commence by mid-2025. The project follows the approval granted in September by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), marking a critical milestone in the mine’s journey out of care and maintenance.

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Rich resource

The mine is one of the world’s highest-quality and accessible rare-earth element mines - while the elements are not actually as rare as their name would suggest, they tend to be fairly evenly and thinly spread through the earth’s crust, making extraction expensive.

Most deposits are sandy deposits, which are tough on machinery, and have a concentration around 1 part in 100, whereas Steenkampskraal has a concentration nearly ten times that, and present in rocky deposits, which are far easier to extract.

Steenkampskraal’s reactivation is spurred by escalating global demand for rare earths and isotopes. The mine boasts some of the world's highest thorium concentrations, a potential alternative fuel for next-generation molten salt reactors. Additionally, its thorium-228 and radium-228 are critical feedstocks for lead-212, a promising agent in cutting-edge cancer treatments.

With negotiations advancing with international partners, Steenkampskraal is poised to supply rare earths, thorium, and radium to industries ranging from oncology to advanced energy. Collaboration with Thor Medical, a specialist in alpha particle emitters, is set to leverage the mine’s resources for medical breakthroughs.

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Navigating Regulations

The mine's operations are governed by the stringent requirements of the National Nuclear Act, which supersedes the country’s mining legislation. Any changes with potential radioactive implications necessitate risk assessments and regulatory approval, reflecting South Africa’s commitments under the International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

“Compliance is a dual challenge,” Mathebula remarked, emphasizing the overlap of mining and nuclear oversight. The mine’s hiatus, initiated in May 2021, was aimed at maintaining its Certificate of Registration under the NNR—a necessity for resuming production.

In addition, South Africa’s mineral licensing process is notoriously slow, often taking ten years for turnaround. Steenkampskraal initiated the process as far back as 2017, and will only see ground broken in 2025, a full eight years later.

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Mine for Modern Needs

Refurbishment efforts are already underway, with the overhaul of surface infrastructure, decline shafts, and underground facilities scheduled for early 2025. This includes re-equipping the mine's headgear and implementing enhanced safety measures to manage radioactive materials. A pilot hydrometallurgical plant is also in development, paving the way for the next phase of processing innovation.

Looking ahead, the first phase of a novel processing plant is expected to break ground in the second quarter of 2025, targeting initial production by mid-2026. This facility aims to refine monazite concentrate with cutting-edge technology, ensuring Steenkampskraal remains a pivotal player in the global rare earths market.

As demand for clean energy and advanced medical technologies grows, Steenkampskraal stands to capitalize on its unique resource base. However, the mine’s success will hinge on navigating regulatory complexities and delivering on its ambitious timelines—a tall order in South Africa’s often fraught mining sector.

For now, Steenkampskraal’s green headgear, soon to be reactivated, symbolizes not just a return to work but a renewed commitment to meet the challenges of a resource-hungry world.

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