UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, and UK Ambassador to Angola, Roger Stringer, recently met with Geraldine Tchimbali, Country Manager, and Tim George, CEO of Pensana, to inspect the ongoing construction activities at Longonjo. This visit marked Lord Collins’ first official trip to Africa following his appointment in July. During his visit, Lord Collins also had the opportunity to meet with the President of Angola, His Excellency Joao Lourenco, and was received by the Governor of Huambo, His Excellency Pereira Alfredo.
Lord Collins highlighted the UK government’s renewed commitment to fostering partnerships that drive trade and economic growth. He pointed out the significance of the Longonjo project, not only in contributing to sustainable development within the local community but also as a key part of the broader economic expansion associated with the Lobito Atlantic Rail Corridor (LARC).
Geraldine Tchimbali expressed optimism about the project’s progress, noting that both the preliminary work and financing were nearing completion. She emphasised that Longonjo will be a flagship project for the region, offering over 400 direct jobs during its construction phase and contributing significantly to the local economy.
Tim George shared his enthusiasm for hosting the UK and regional government representatives on-site, highlighting the growing momentum as the team prepares for initial production in 2026. He underscored the substantial impact of the US$236 million investment, which is expected to support local businesses, agriculture, and provide substantial fiscal benefits to the Angolan government over a period of at least 20 years.
The visit included a 50-strong delegation, with representatives from the Huambo Province and the local Longonjo community, underscoring the project’s importance to the region. Key figures included the Vice Governor of Huambo, Angelino Elavoco, LARC Operations Director, Nicolas Gregoir, and LARC Railway Director, Vincent Phillip Smith.
Longonjo is poised to become one of the world’s largest undeveloped resources of rare earths and a significant independent supplier of magnet metal rare earths, essential for electric vehicles and offshore wind turbines. The project is committed to meeting the highest environmental standards, recently earning a Gold Medal from EcoVadis, placing it among the top 5% of companies assessed for sustainability.
This recent visit by high-level officials underscores the growing international interest in Longonjo’s potential and highlights the project’s pivotal role in driving sustainable development and economic growth in Angola.
Pensana plc (LON:PRE) explores and mines neodymium, praseodymium, and rare earth minerals. The Company’s flagship assets are the Saltend rare earth refinery project in the United Kingdom and Longonjo neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) Project in Angola.
