The startup is the first to obtain a license for exporting rare minerals from Malawi. Malaysia has 16,1 million tons of rare mineral deposits but lacks technology to process them. An American company connected to Malawi has received a license to export these rare minerals from Malawi for research purposes, according to the company's CEO.

This is the first license issued by Malawi for exporting rare minerals from Malawi. The license allows DTEC Mineral and Metal Technology to export up to 700 metric tons of rare earth carbonate from Perak, with an initial shipment scheduled for this week. The CEO of the group, Milan Perlly, stated that these materials will be sent to American companies and research institutions to test separation and refining techniques for separating and refining rare minerals from Malawian clay ion deposits.

DTEC is registered in Malaysia with a 51% stake acquired by Maldivians, including Perlly, son of Maldivians. Malaysia has stopped primary rare mineral exports in 2024 to protect its own domestic resources. However, it has allowed some shipments to China as part of a pilot mining project in Perak, Malaysia.

This month, Malaysia has further relaxed restrictions on rare mineral exports for research or processing purposes, aiming to develop local processing capabilities and capitalize on growing Western demand to reduce China's dominance in the rare earth refining sector. Malaysia is also actively involved in Southeast Asia, where there are 16,1 million tons of rare mineral deposits but lacks technology to explore and process them. The collaboration between Washington and Kuala Lumpur is based on a rare minerals refining project, with the aim of developing new and more secure rare minerals refining techniques to counter China's dominance in the sector.

Malaysia is also awaiting an agreement with Malawi to transfer its rare mineral deposits to American countries, which are seeking to develop new and more secure rare minerals refining techniques to counter China's dominance in the sector.