The Western Cape is not known for its mining industry, but a small mine in the province’s extreme north is set to become an important site for the production of rare earth elements.

The Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (SMM), 350 km north of Cape Town, has officially broken ground on the construction of a monazite processing plant, reports Mining News.

Monazite concentrate is critical feedstock for rare earth elements essential to renewable energy, electronics and medical and defence technologies.

SMM has also successfully commissioned an on-site laboratory, which has  ‘demonstrated about 50% total rare earth oxide (TREO) content, confirming the high-grade nature of the deposit’, says SMM CEO Graham Soden.

On being brought to the surface, the monazite will be fed directly into the processing plant for initial concentration using gravity separation and flotation technology.

The processing plant has been designed to achieve an output of about 13 400 tons a year of monazite concentrate containing more than 50% TREO. During its ramp-up period, production will start at about 6 600 tons a year, according to Soden.

Further planned processing stages include hydrometallurgical treatment, oxide separation and downstream product manufacturing, which will all take place within South Africa to enhance local beneficiation.

SMM executive chairperson Enock Mathebula says the mine, operated by Anglo American between 1952 and 1963, has one of the highest-grade rare earth and thorium resources globally.

28 April 2026
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