Andromeda Metals Ltd (ASX:AND) has appointed Joe Ranford as operations director and project manager for the Poochera Halloysite-Kaolin Project in South Australia.
Ranford has been an executive director of the company and will now drive the Poochera project through the next critical pre-development stages.
These comprise the completion of a definitive feasibility study (DFS), submission of a mining lease application, decision to mine and the beginning of operations.
Operational experience
He has experience in senior management roles in domestic and international mining companies, including working as chief operating officer at Nordic Gold Inc, a Canadian-based company.
Nordic was the previous owner of the Laiva Gold Mine in Finland at which Ranford helped re-establish mining operations, bringing the project back into production from care and maintenance.
Prior to that, Ranford was operations manager for Terramin Australia Limited (ASX:TZN) where he managed all operational and technical aspects of the Angas Zine Mine and championed the evaluation and approval processes for the Bird in Hand Gold Project in South Australia.
Towards production
With this appointment, the company believes it has considerable experience in all aspects of bringing mining operations into production.
The board is confident Ranford’s experience and expertise will enable the Poochera project to progress through the final evaluation phase and into production in a timely manner.