Andrada Mining Ltd has said the commissioning of a tin sorting circuit is underway at its Uis mine in Namibia.
Once installed, the circuit will increase production of tin concentrate to 2,600tpa from 1,500tpa, an expansion anticipated to increase revenue by up to 75% and reduce the mine’s sustaining costs
Ore sorting will also augment the Continuous Improvement II programme (“CI2”) currently underway at the mine, the statement added.
Simultaneously, optimisation of a tantalum production circuit has been completed with the first output scheduled for this month.
Annual production of tantalum is estimated at 48 tonnes initially, rising to 83 tonnes once the ore sorting circuit is implemented.
Tantalum revenue is predicted to be between 3% and 5% of total group revenue at steady-state production.
Uis’s lithium pilot plant has also been producing technical-grade petalite concentrate since the fourth quarter of 2023, Andrada added, with this ore currently being stockpiled.
Initially, speciality glass and ceramics are the target markets as prices here are higher than in the battery market currently.
Preliminary modelling indicates initial production of 30,000 tpa (from 1.7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) Run-Of-Mine of technical grade petalite concentrate.
“Indicative, non-binding offers for a partnership interest at the Lithium project level have been received and discussions with potential partners are progressing well,” said the statement.
Anthony Viljoen, Andrada’s chief executive, commented: “While Andrada focuses on achieving its ultimate goal of unlocking the scale potential of its deposits, the short-term goal of maximising revenues from current operations remains key to providing free cashflow for the organisation, whilst simultaneously derisking the flow sheet.
“The expansion of tin production will enable Andrada to align with its royalty obligations, whilst the commercial production of tantalum will fulfil a supply agreement with Afrimet.
Leave a Reply