Fortuna Metals has updated its exploration target for the Mkanda rutile and graphite project in Malawi, reinforcing the scale and potential of the rutile province.
The company has defined an estimated target range of between 180 million tonnes to 240 million tonnes at 0.86 per cent to 1 per cent rutile.
While the current target is based on shallow assays averaging just 4.1 metres deep, the company believes there is significant blue sky potential to grow the resource both laterally and at depth.
Fortuna CEO Tom Langley said the exploration target demonstrates the potential of Mkanda to host a globally significant rutile deposit.
“The extent and grade of Mkanda make it an extremely important asset globally with high-quality rutile in strong demand as a premium feedstock to the downstream titanium producers,” Langley said.
“Mkanda is not just a rutile project, it is a strategic asset in the titanium supply chain.”
The company noted that the nearby Kasiya resource, owned by Sovereign Metals, saw substantial growth when drilling moved beyond shallow depths.
Fortuna plans to replicate this success with Aircore drilling scheduled for late May, which will test the free-dig saprolite down to 20 or 30 metres.
Natural rutile sits at the top of the titanium feedstock pyramid. It is a premium, high-purity product essential for high-growth industries, including robotics, aerospace, and medical equipment.
With titanium metal demand forecast to jump from US$30 billion in 2025 to US$54 billion by 2034, Mkanda is being fast-tracked to meet the supply crunch.
Beyond titanium, the project holds significant graphite potential. Graphite assays from over 240 drill holes are expected in the second quarter of 2026.
Because graphite grades typically increase with depth in this region, deeper drilling could provide a major value-add to the project’s overall economics.
