AfriTin Mining has commenced a phased commissioning process for the pilot processing plant at its Uis tin mine in Namibia. At the same time the mining contractor has been mobilised, water and power infrastructure has been put in place, and resource validation drilling has been completed. The plant consists of two main parts: a 4-stage crushing circuit and a 3-stage concentrating circuit. During commissioning, the plant will produce initial tin concentrate, with continuous plant operations likely to commence in July 2019.

This represents a slight deviation from previous guidance by the company stating that commercial tin concentrate production will commence in the second quarter of 2019. The delay was caused by longer than expected lead times in the procurement of equipment, material and construction services. Commissioning will be followed by a production ramp up spanning four months with the goal of achieving design capacity before the end of the fourth quarter.

The commissioning follows recent news of a financing for AfriTin, in which it raised £3 million and secured a standby facility from sister company, Bushveld Minerals Ltd. Uis was formerly the world’s largest hard-rock tin mine. AfriTin’s plan is for a two phase development, with the pilot plant being commissioned in the first phase to process approximately 500,000 t of ore per annum and approximately 60 t of tin concentrate per month. The second phase will comprise a planned operation of a 3 Mt per annum processing facility, producing approximately 5,000 t per annum of tin concentrate.

“We have been looking forward to this exciting phase of the project since breaking first ground at the end of 2018,” said AfriTin Chief Executive Anthony Viljoen. “While there is work to be done to achieve steady state production, the significant step of commencing production and first concentrate is a momentous milestone for the company.”