Quick Facts
| Location | Huambo Province; -12.90°S, 15.60°E |
| Ownership | Pensana Plc 84% (via Ozango Minerais), FSDEA (Angola Sovereign Wealth Fund) + AFC equity |
| Production | Phase 1: 20,000 tpa MREC (2027); Phase 2: 40,000 tpa MREC (2029); ~2,400 tpa NdPr oxide equivalent |
| Workforce | 430+ processing jobs (Phase 1); 2,400 direct/indirect (Phase 2); construction peak ~750 |
| Primary Minerals | Rare Earth Elements (Neodymium, Praseodymium, Dysprosium, Terbium) |
| Corridor Connection | Adjacent to Lobito railway corridor; ~60km west of Huambo; containerised rail transport to Lobito port |
Overview
The Longonjo Rare Earths Project is one of the world's largest developing rare earth deposits and the most strategically significant mining project directly on the Lobito Corridor route. Located approximately 60 kilometres west of the provincial capital Huambo and adjacent to the Benguela Railway, Longonjo has secured full funding and is under active construction with first production targeted for 2027.
Pensana holds an 84% stake through its Angolan subsidiary Ozango Minerais. The project has delineated a JORC-compliant reserve of 22 million tonnes grading 3.04% total rare earth oxides, containing 139,457 tonnes of neodymium-praseodymium oxide — making it one of the world's largest and highest-grade undeveloped magnet metal deposits with a projected mine life exceeding 20 years.
In March 2025, Pensana announced full financing of approximately USD 268 million for Phase 1 development. The funding package includes a USD 160 million syndicated loan facility (Africa Finance Corporation USD 81.2 million and Absa Bank), a USD 54.9 million convertible loan from AFC, USD 38 million from Angola's sovereign wealth fund (FSDEA), and a USD 15 million bridging loan. In December 2025, a USD 100 million strategic subscription was announced to underpin a mine-to-magnet strategy targeting US markets.
Phase 1 will produce 20,000 tonnes per annum of mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC). Phase 2 expansion targets 40,000 tonnes per annum, representing approximately 5% of global production convertible into permanent magnets for electric vehicles and offshore wind turbines.
A landmark November 2025 offtake agreement with Vacuumschmelze (VAC), a German permanent magnet manufacturer, will route Longonjo's MREC to VAC's eVAC Magnetics factory in South Carolina — creating an entirely China-free rare earth supply chain from Angolan mine to American magnet factory. In January 2026, Ivanhoe founder Robert Friedland's White House meeting with President Trump for Project Vault, a USD 12 billion critical minerals stockpile, further underscored the strategic significance of non-Chinese rare earth supply.
Community Impact
Longonjo is expected to create over 430 high-value processing jobs in Phase 1, with more than half pledged to young people. Phase 2 is estimated to generate 2,400 direct and indirect jobs. Construction is providing employment opportunities in Huambo Province, with the workforce expected to peak at approximately 750 personnel.
Infrastructure installed during 2025 — including potable water, wastewater treatment, telecommunications, and power — supports not just the mine but contributes to broader regional development. Pensana has spent over USD 70 million on exploration, technical and environmental studies over the past six years.
Environmental Profile
Longonjo benefits from its carbonatite-hosted geology, which supports simple open-pit mining at relatively low unit costs from near-surface laterite deposits. The current blanket averages approximately 30 metres depth, with drilling planned to extend to 100+ metres.
Tailings management follows Global Industry Standards on Tailings Management, with SRK-designed tailings storage facility construction underway. A modular 250 tonne-per-day sulphuric acid plant (by Clark in Brazil) is designed to minimize environmental risk.
The project's proximity to the Lobito railway enables containerised rail transport to port, reducing road transport environmental impacts compared to remote mining operations.
ESG Assessment
Status: Under Assessment
This mine has not yet received a formal Lobito Corridor ESG rating. Our assessment team is compiling baseline data from public sources, field observations, and stakeholder consultations. ESG ratings, when issued, will be verified through the source library.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018-2023 | Pensana spends $70M+ on exploration and studies |
| 2023 | Infrastructure site works begin |
| 2024 | Main construction commences; accommodation camp completed |
| Jan 2025 | $160M syndicated loan facility with AFC and Absa Bank |
| March 2025 | Full $268M financing secured for Phase 1 |
| May 2025 | Main construction begins; FSDEA deploys $25M |
| Nov 2025 | VAC offtake agreement — China-free mine-to-magnet supply chain |
| Dec 2025 | $100M strategic subscription for US mine-to-magnet plan |
| Jan 2026 | On track for 2027 commissioning; workforce expanding |
| 2027 | Target Phase 1 commercial production: 20,000 tpa MREC |
| 2029 | Target Phase 2 expansion: 40,000 tpa MREC |
Related Pages
Company: Pensana · Africa Finance Corporation
Minerals: Rare Earth Elements
Community: Huambo
Deals: Pensana Longonjo Rare Earths
Country: Angola Profile
Index: All Mine Profiles · ESG Observatory
This profile is produced independently by Lobito Corridor and does not represent the views of Pensana Plc or any government. Data sourced from public filings, government reports, and independent research. Last updated: May 19, 2026.
Independent ESG Assessment
Our independent ESG assessment evaluates this operation's environmental management, social impact, governance quality, and disclosure transparency. Environmental assessment covers water management, waste handling, air emissions, biodiversity impacts, and mine closure planning. Social assessment examines community relations, employment practices, local procurement, benefit-sharing, and human rights performance. Governance assessment evaluates corporate transparency, anti-corruption measures, and stakeholder engagement quality.
Assessment findings are incorporated into our quarterly Corridor ESG Scorecards, providing stakeholders with comparable, independent ratings across all major corridor mining operations. Operations meeting our assessment thresholds are eligible for verified ESG ratings issued from our evidence archive — verifiable reputation signals that differentiate responsible operators from those whose ESG claims are unsubstantiated. Rating publication requires demonstrated performance, not just policy commitments.
Community Impact Monitoring
Community impact monitoring around this operation tracks the full spectrum of mining effects on surrounding populations. Employment and procurement spending quantify direct economic benefits to local communities. Environmental monitoring tracks water quality, air quality, and ecosystem health in areas affected by operations. Community consultation processes are evaluated for meaningful participation versus performative compliance. Grievance mechanisms are assessed for accessibility, responsiveness, and outcome fairness.
Our monitoring provides the independent verification that enables stakeholders — investors, regulators, civil society, and affected communities themselves — to assess whether this operation delivers the community benefits that its social licence to operate requires. Documentation is preserved on our source evidence archive, creating permanent records that support long-term accountability and prevent the revisionism that undermines community claims when corporate memory proves conveniently selective.