Name of the Project
Moma titanium mine – wet concentrator plant (WCP) A upgrade and transition project.

Location
North-east coast of Mozambique. 

Project Owner/s
Titanium minerals producer Kenmare Resources.
 
Project Description
The Moma mine contains deposits of heavy minerals that include the titanium minerals ilmenite and rutile, as well as the zirconium silicate mineral, zircon.

Mining is principally undertaken using dredges that float in artificial mining ponds. These dredges pump the mineral sands that form the wall of the pond into a WCP. Dredging takes place in three separate artificial freshwater ponds where four dredges feed three floating WCPs – WCP A, WCP B and WCP C. 

WCP A is the biggest of Kenmare’s three mining plants, representing about 50% of total mining capacity. 

WCP A will start its transition from its current mine path, in Namalope, where it has mined for 17 years, to Nataka, in late 2025. Nataka represents more than 70% of Moma’s mineral resources, containing 6.4-billion tonnes of the mine’s nine-billion tonnes of mineral resources. 

The transition project is the only move of this kind that is required in WCP A’s economic life, which is expected to extend beyond the existing mine plan that runs until 2045.

The principal components of the project include the replacement of WCP A’s two existing dredges with higher-capacity dredges, the addition of a desliming circuit, and the construction of a tailings storage facility (TSF).

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
$341-million. Kenmare plans to fund the WCP A upgrade and transition from cash flow and existing debt facilities.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Kenmare Resources has reduced its 2025 production guidance after commissioning delays at WCP A resulted in lower-than-expected output.

The company now expects to produce between 870 000 t and 905 000 t of ilmenite in 2025, alongside 8 500 t to 9 500 t of rutile. Before the commissioning delays, guidance had projected higher ilmenite and rutile output.

Kenmare said on November 18 that the decision followed slower progress in certain parts of the WCP A commissioning process, particularly on-plant tailings management, which had restricted throughput and required further optimisation work. The company noted that the plant had reached its targeted processing rate at times, but consistency had yet to be achieved.

The company paused WCP A production in September to disconnect older equipment and install the new dredges and a feed preparation module, supported by a TSF.

According to the company, most of the major new components have been commissioned and are performing to design specifications, with both dredges operating steadily after initial automation issues were resolved and the new feed preparation system contributing to improved mineral recoveries.

Kenmare has indicated that the remaining bottleneck relates to tailings management in the plant, which is restricting overall throughput and utilisation. The company expects improvements to largely resolve these issues, although some optimisation work might extend into 2026.

While acknowledging the slower-than-expected ramp-up, the company has reported that market conditions also influenced its updated guidance. It has, therefore, chosen not to compensate for reduced output by increasing dry mining, which would have raised operating costs. This approach has been supported by weaker product demand and by Kenmare’s meeting shipments using production and existing stockpiles.

Accordingly, the company has updated its 2025 production guidance to be in the range of 870 000 t to 905 000 t of ilmenite, plus coproducts, for the year. It has further noted that shipments for the year will remain unaffected.

About 85% of the total project cost is expected to have been spent and deployed by the end of this year.

Development capital spending for 2025 has been revised to between $170-million and $175-million, owing to adjustments in timing between December 2025 and January 2026. The company has said the higher 2025 figure will be offset by a corresponding reduction in 2026.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Kenmare Resources, tel +353 1 6710411 or email info@kenmareresources.com.