CHAMWE KAIRA
The CEO of Andrada Mining, Anthony Viljoen, has said continued investment in exploration, metallurgy and asset development has earned the company the social license to operate and established strategic world-class partnerships.
“During the interim period, we secured debt funding arrangements with established lenders, including Standard Bank of Namibia (tin hedge) and Bank Windhoek, for the implementation of our exciting growth projects,” he said this when he announced the unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 August.
Andrada’s assets are located in the Erongo region, a metallogenic jewel of northwest Namibia.
Deposits of base, technology, precious metals, and nuclear fuels are abundant in the region. .
Erongo has high potential for new mineral discoveries.
The company owns two mining licences namely Uis (ML134) and Lithium Ridge (ML133), and an exploration licence, Brandberg West (EPL 5445), all of which are situated in the Erongo Region.
The company ramped up tantalum concentrate production, producing 25 tonnes and shipping 15 tonnes to its off-taker, AfriMet, by the end of the period.
He said that despite an unforeseen mechanical breakdown at the processing plant, which marginally increased costs, its ongoing CI2 programme has improved overall recovery rates.
“We expect significant performance improvements in the 2026 financial year as we begin to reap the benefits of various capital projects. Our lithium pilot plant continues to provide critical information for potential off-take agreements and for the integration of the lithium production circuit into the current plant.”
Viljoen said recent results from the maiden drilling programme at Brandberg West confirmed significant mineralisation within the historical pit and the extensions to the north.
He said the exceptionally high-grade veins have added tungsten and copper to its portfolio of critical minerals. Ongoing drilling at Uis will enhance the company’s understanding of various pegmatites and enable us to increase the resource, he said.
“We plan to expand our mineralisation exploration programme across the Erongo region to identify potential assets for future expansion. Our goal is to position Andrada as a platform for production growth in critical raw materials within Namibia.”
To support ongoing capital expansion programs related to tin and lithium development, the company announced on 7 August the conclusion of the N$175 million financing package from Bank Windhoek through its subsidiary Uis Tin Mining Company (UTMC).
The company has launched the pre-concentrating project for the Uis mine to increase the tin grade and output from the processing plant to 1 600 tonnes per annum of contained tin.