AfriTin Mining Ltd (LON:ATM) has achieved nameplate tin concentrate production at its Uis mine in Namibia.
The company completed production ramp-up for stage I of phase 1 during November 2020.
Tin concentrate production totalled 63.9 tonnes for November 2020, representing a 32% month-on-month increase. Tin concentrate production for the year to date now totals 301 tonnes.
The group also noted that no confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have been recorded at the Uis tin mine to date, as strict COVID-19 mitigation measures remain in place to safeguard the workforce.
Despite coronavirus-related restrictions, shipping of tin concentrate through the port of Walvis Bay to the off-take partner in Thailand continues unabated.
AfriTin said it will now focus on maintaining steady-state production while exploring opportunities for further optimisation and expansion of the operation. These opportunities include a modular expansion of the plant throughput and potential production of a by-product in the form of a tantalum concentrate.
The company is conducting test work to investigate the feasibility of magnetically separating tantalum minerals from the tin concentrate.
"We are delighted to have achieved nameplate tin concentrate production of 63.9 tonnes, at our flagship asset, the Uis Tin Mine, ahead of year-end,” said AfriTin chief executive Anthony Viljoen in a statement.
“This is a defining milestone that has been achieved for the company. This success speaks volumes for the high-quality nature of the asset and the calibre of our management team, whom I would like to sincerely congratulate given the macro challenges faced by the global pandemic. Furthermore, this accomplishment provides us with the platform to progress, with proven confidence, our development plan for the Uis Tin Mine towards a large-scale mining and processing facility," he added.