Malawi has signed investment agreements worth over $12 billion with Chinese firms, signaling a major boost in the country’s mining and infrastructure sectors. The deals, which include the largest foreign direct investment in Malawi’s mining history, are positioning the Southern African nation as a rising hub for critical minerals vital to the global energy transition.
The landmark agreements were sealed under the leadership of Malawi’s Minister of Mining, Ken Ng’oma, and involve several Chinese companies. A key deal includes a $7 billion agreement with China’s Hunan Sunwalk Group to develop titanium extraction and processing facilities in Salima, central Malawi. This project is not only expected to create thousands of jobs but also includes plans for technology transfer, skills development, and community empowerment.
In a separate but equally significant arrangement, Malawi has partnered with Xidian International Stock Exchange to secure another $5 billion in funding. This investment will be used to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Chipoka, located along the shores of Lake Malawi. Within the first year, $1 billion worth of projects in mining, infrastructure, and agri-industrial development are expected to roll out under this SEZ plan.
These massive investments are being driven by the growing global demand for rare earth elements, uranium, titanium, and graphite, all of which are essential for batteries, clean energy systems, and high-tech manufacturing. Malawi, rich in these resources, is now attracting interest from both Asian and Western financiers.
One standout project is the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in southern Malawi, managed by Australia’s Lindian Resources. This project has received over $120 million in proposed funding from Ecobank, the European Investment Bank, and Gerald Group. With full operations scheduled for 2026, Kangankunde is expected to become one of the world’s largest rare earth production facilities.
In the uranium sector, Australian-listed Lotus Resources has raised $38.5 million from South African banks to advance the Kayelekera Uranium Mine. The company is targeting its first production by the third quarter of 2025, reviving one of the region’s most important uranium assets.
Meanwhile, Sovereign Metals is developing the Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project, located just outside Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. Backed by $40 million in capital, Kasiya is home to the world’s largest known rutile deposit and the second-largest graphite reserve globally. The site is expected to produce up to 245,000 tonnes of rutile and 288,000 tonnes of graphite annually over a 25-year lifespan.
With these investments, Malawi’s mineral exports are projected to bring in up to $30 billion between 2026 and 2040, strengthening its position in the global critical minerals supply chain. This windfall is expected to fuel economic growth, create thousands of jobs, and increase foreign exchange earnings for the country.
Minister Ng’oma is set to present Malawi’s progress at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2025, to be held from October 1st to 3rd in Cape Town, South Africa. He will speak at the Ministerial Forum and the China-Africa Cooperation on Critical Minerals Roundtable. The event, themed “From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa’s Mineral Wealth,” will bring together African leaders, investors, and mining stakeholders to shape the future of sustainable mineral development on the continent.
AMW 2025 will run alongside African Energy Week, offering an ideal opportunity for Malawi to deepen global partnerships and highlight its growing influence in the clean energy and critical minerals economy.
With these bold moves, Malawi is not only diversifying its economy but also carving out a key role in global green technology supply chains—an achievement that could shape its future for decades to come.
