South Africa has processed monazite ore into high-purity rare earth minerals on a commercial scale for the first time, achieved through a partnership between Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine and national research institution Mintek. The development positions South Africa as the first country on the African continent to reach this processing milestone in the rare earth supply chain.
Steenkampskraal, located in the Western Cape, holds one of the world's highest-grade monazite deposits. Mintek, South Africa's state-owned minerals research organisation, provided the processing expertise required to convert monazite concentrate — the output of the mine's recently commissioned processing plant — into separated, high-purity rare earth products suitable for downstream industrial application.
Rare earth elements derived from monazite include neodymium and praseodymium, the principal inputs for permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, and advanced defence systems. China currently controls approximately 85% of global rare earth processing capacity and has imposed export restrictions on key rare earth elements, creating sustained pressure on Western governments and manufacturers to develop alternative supply chains.
No production volumes, product specifications, offtake agreements, or commercial pricing terms were disclosed in the announcement. Steenkampskraal's Mine General Manager Sechaba Letaba, appointed in June 2026, was tasked with driving the mine's transition to full-scale production.
