Africa-Press – Namibia. UIS Tin Mine in the Erongo region has recorded a 13% increase in production quarter-on-quarter, to achieve 152 tonnes during the first quarter of the financial year, ending 31 May 2022.
Owned by the London-listed AfriTin Mining Limited Uis – 85%, and 15% by the Small Miners of Uis, the enterprise achieved record-breaking results, according to the unaudited quarterly production update for the mine, released yesterday.
The company’s financial year runs from March to February.
“Our tin-producing operation at the Uis Mine continues to deliver record-breaking performance. I am also pleased to note that the initiatives aimed at improving our unit costs are yielding positive results.
“These results are a testament to our team’s capability. The phase 1 expansion project is nearing completion and will further strengthen our tin revenue base,” said AfriTin chief executive officer Anthony Viljoen in the update.
“The strong performance of the tin operation provides a solid platform for developing potential lithium and tantalum by-product revenue streams. Our position as an operating, cash-generating mining company allows us to fast-track development of near-term opportunities, as well as expand our production and product portfolio.”
AfriTin is redeveloping the historic Uis hard-rock brownfield open-cast tin mine.
The mining project is being developed in two phases, with phase one involving an estimated capital expenditure of £7 million (about N$140 million) on a pilot processing plant capable of producing 60 tonnes of tin concentrates a month.
Metallurgical test work results released last month show the successful production of a petalite lithium concentrate, indicating the potential for a lithium by-product at the company’s flagship polymetallic mine.
This led to the appointment of South African company Consulmet as the main contractor for a 20 tonne/hour pilot plant, with a target commissioning date in the fourth quarter of this year.
The pilot plant is intended as a proof of concept for a full-scale, integrated lithium beneficiation circuit, which would be added to the existing processing plant, AfriTin said in a release to Mining Weekly.
The company achieved a record quarterly performance at the Uis Mine for quarter 1 of the 2023 financial year. Tin concentrate production for the period totalled 239 tonnes. Tin contained in concentrate increased by 13% quarter-on-quarter to 152 tonnes.
“A total of 152 kt of ore was processed at an average processing rate of 99 tph. Processing plant efficiency as measured by overall tin recovery, improved 5% quarter on quarter to a record of 67%. The average plant feed grade for the quarter increased 9% quarter on quarter due to natural orebody grade variations in the current mining area.”
All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) for the mine decreased by 16% to US$23,526 (unaudited) per tonne of tin. This compares favourably with the realised average tin price of US$34,367 achieved for the quarter, according to the update.
The improvement in AISC can be attributed to higher tin production and operational efficiencies. Secondary factors contributing to quarterly cost variations include exchange rate fluctuations and work-in-progress movements.
“The company remains committed to driving continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiencies and unit costs, and minimising cost fluctuations,” the update added.
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