Africa-Press – Namibia. LONDON-listed technology metals mining company Andrada Mining Limited, formerly Afritin Mining Limited, says tin production will jump in 2023, while a bulk testing pilot project on lithium from its Uis mine in Namibia will be completed in June.
According to a statement released by the company on Monday, a process has been identified by the company’s independent test facility in South Africa to produce a lithium concentrate suitable for buyers’ specifications in industrial and battery feedstock markets.
Meanwhile, tin output at Uis ran at record levels in the final quarter of 2022, with 361 tonnes of concentrate and 214 tonnes of metal produced.
Overall, production for 2022 was 960 tonnes of concentrate, a 19% increase, with metal up 18% at 596 tonnes.
In a statement, chief executive officer Anthony Viljoen said: “The exceptional fourth quarter production performance is a demonstration of the execution capability of Andrada’s management team.
“We have made excellent progress in realising the significant economies of scale inherent in this uniquely large ore body.
“We believe these economies of scale and the bringing online of lithium production will rapidly enhance the value of this outstanding asset over the coming months,” he said.
Andrada said sustainable costs fell 9% on average and in the final quarter were its lowest ever at US$18,236 per tonne.
For the current year, the company forecasts tin concentrate production will be between 1 400 and 1 500 tonnes – an expected increase of between 45% and 56% year on year due to the plant’s expansion.
According to the statement, average operating cash costs are guided to US$17 000 per tonne and US$20 000 per tonne, rising to between US$20 000 per tonne and US25 000 per tonne on a cash basis, and US$25 000 per tonne and US$30 000 per tonne, including transport due to a temporary increase in stripping rates and the 4,5% royalty costs.
Andrada said significant progress had been made towards fulfilling the precedent conditions for Orion and Development Bank of Namibia financing, while cash at the end of the year rose16% to £8,6 million.
The company said exploration in 2023 will focus on drilling the ML129 licence area for visible spodumene (lithium) mineralisation and field mapping of targets on the ML133 licence.
Andrada said it is also exploring several options for achieving early lithium revenues in the second half of the 2023 calendar year, including concentrate production from the bulk pilot plant.
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