Andrada Mining secures high-grade tin feedstock to boost production ramp-up
Tin and lithium miner Andrada Mining has announced a strategic move to strengthen its supply chain with the securing of additional high-grade tin ore from a deposit near its flagship Uis mine and processing facility in Namibia.
The newly sourced tin ore originates from Goantagab, located in the Kunene Region, a site historically drilled by Gold Fields Namibia in the 1980s. Previous exploration revealed tin grades exceeding 1%, albeit under a non-JORC compliant classification. The relatively high-grade nature of the deposit positions it as a potentially lucrative source of feedstock for Andrada, capable of significantly enhancing throughput and margins at the Uis facility.
Andrada CEO Anthony Viljoen commented:
“At Andrada, we have always believed in the vast potential of mineral-rich and investment friendly Namibia as a host to some of the world’s critical mineral resources essential to modern technologies. Namibia is abundantly rich in natural resources beyond its minerals, boasting globally significant ecosystems and wildlife that are intrinsic to its national identity and livelihood.
It is encouraging to see tin increasingly acknowledged as a critical mineral by global economies such as the USA, Canada and the UK. This shift reflects tin’s transformation from being a traditional alloying mineral to being a key enabler in the electrical and energy transition value chains, particularly in soldering, semiconductors and renewable infrastructure. Therefore, this collaboration with Birca on the Goantagab deposit reaffirms our strategy in creating a mining district for critical minerals in the Erongo. Based on historical resource data and our independent assessment, the deposit has the potential to be comparative to other high-grade occurrences of tin globally. Once production at the Plant is fully commissioned, it will significantly increase the tin concentrate throughput thereby elevating the Company’s position in the global market.
At Uis, construction of the new jig plant is well underway, and we remain on track to commence production in the second half of 2025. This ore acquisition agreement reflects the continued evolution of Andrada’s asset portfolio, and our ability to forge timely and opportunistic strategic partnerships that accelerate development and enable large-scale execution. We believe we are uniquely qualified to unlock the immense mineral potential that Namibia holds and look forward to leveraging our established presence in the Erongo region as we continue our mission to become a leading producer of critical minerals.
We recognise the inherent tension at the intersection of mining, tourism and conservation. We continue to engage proactively and transparently with all our relevant stakeholders. As part of our broader vision, we are enhancing our sustainability strategy to reflect our firm belief that, mining, responsible stewardship, collaboration, biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism, and socio-economic development such as job creation can all coexist harmoniously.”