Pensana Targets Over One Billion Tonnes at Longonjo Rare Earths Project

Pensana Rare Earths is preparing to embark on an ambitious expansion programme that could redefine the scale and significance of its Longonjo project in Angola. Beginning in early 2026, the company will invest 11 million dollars in drilling and metallurgical studies with the objective of increasing Longonjo’s mineral resource estimate to more than one billion tonnes. This milestone would place Longonjo among the world’s largest rare earth deposits and reinforce its strategic value at a time when global demand for magnet metals continues to rise.

The 2026 work programme centres on a 25,000 metre vertical core drilling campaign designed to extend the near surface rare earth oxide blanket from approximately 30 metres depth to beyond 100 metres. Early geological interpretation indicates strong depth continuity, which provides growing confidence that a substantial resource upgrade is achievable. In parallel, metallurgical testwork will refine processing parameters, support improved mine planning and advance optimisation studies aimed at enhancing the overall economic profile of the project. Together, these efforts are expected to deliver a robust, high confidence resource base that can underpin long term development.

Longonjo continues to gain importance within the global rare earths market as demand strengthens and China expands processing capacity at its major Bayan Obo hub. Pensana’s project is uniquely positioned due to its access to strategic infrastructure along the Lobito Corridor, including rail connections, reliable hydropower and efficient port facilities. This infrastructure foundation supports the company’s ambition to create a fully integrated mine to magnet supply chain between Angola and the United States. The project will provide feedstock for US partner eVAC, enabling the production of 2,000 tonnes of advanced magnets by 2029 following initial output from its South Carolina facility.

Pensana’s strategy aligns well with the needs of international offtake partners that are seeking to diversify supply chains in response to China’s tightening rare earth export controls. By developing a reliable non Chinese supply route supported by significant resource growth and established logistics, Pensana is positioning itself as a key player in the emerging global rare earths landscape. The expansion of Longonjo and its integration into transatlantic manufacturing networks could generate meaningful economic benefits for Angola by increasing investment flows, supporting industrial development and strengthening its role in the critical minerals sector.

Mini Glossary

• Rare earth oxide blanket, a near surface layer enriched in rare earth elements.
• Metallurgical testwork, laboratory studies that determine how ore can be processed efficiently.
• Offtake partners, buyers that agree to purchase future production from a project.
• Bayan Obo, the world’s largest rare earth mine and processing hub located in China.
• Lobito Corridor, a strategic transport route connecting inland regions of Angola to the Atlantic coast.