The Malawi Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (AERA) has granted a key radiation safety license to Lotus (Africa) Limited, clearing the way for uranium mining to resume at the Kayelekera site in Karonga District.
This approval marks a major step toward restarting one of Malawi’s most significant mining projects, with operations expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025.
Lotus (Africa) Limited is the local subsidiary of Australia’s Lotus Resources and holds an 85% share in the Kayelekera Uranium Project.
The mine has remained inactive since 2014, when previous operator Paladin Africa Limited shut it down due to low uranium prices and unresolved compliance issues.
Lotus Managing Director Greg Bittar welcomed the license in a statement, saying, “We’re pleased to have received the authorisation,” and emphasised the company’s commitment to ensuring safety for workers, local communities, and the environment.
AERA is expected to carry out a verification inspection once operations resume.
This development follows the submission of the final Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA)—the last step before full-scale mining can recommence.
MEPA officials visited the Kayelekera site in late April and are currently reviewing the ESIA for approval.
The timing of the restart aligns with a renewed government push for transparency in Malawi’s mining sector. Speaking at the recent Mining Investment Forum in Lilongwe, President Lazarus Chakwera called on mining authorities to stop operating in secrecy and start providing regular updates.
“It is disturbing that Malawians have yet to hear anything from mining officials about what’s happening in Kasiya,” Chakwera said, referring to the high-profile rutile discovery near the capital. “Our minerals are a matter of national security, and transparency is our best form of national security.”
His remarks have increased public attention on projects like Kayelekera, which faced criticism in the past over radiation risks, poor community engagement, and unclear revenue-sharing arrangements.
Opened in 2009, Kayelekera was once a major source of export revenue. But by 2014, it had shut down, leaving behind unresolved environmental and community concerns.
Residents in Karonga have long expressed concern over broken promises, secretive contracts, and health risks linked to radiation exposure.
Although the project brings economic hopes, scepticism remains strong.
“Government and investors must put local communities first this time,” said a civil society representative in Karonga, who asked not to be named. “We don’t want a repeat of the past—big promises, but no change on the ground.”
The Chakwera administration has made mining a key part of its economic transformation plan—alongside agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing—under the ATMM strategy.
However, critics argue that without stronger laws and better citizen oversight, mining could continue to exploit rather than empower communities.
As the countdown to Q3 2025 begins, both Lotus and the government face growing scrutiny. All eyes are now on MEPA’s upcoming decision on the ESIA and whether safety measures and promises to local communities will truly be honoured.
