Tungsten West PLC (AIM:TUN) said it had taken a major step towards restarting production at the world-class Hemerdon tungsten and tin mine in Devon, England.
The company broke ground at Hemerdon for the installation of X-Ray Transmission (XRT) ore sorters on 17 March.
Earlier this month, the AIM-listed company took receipt of important long-lead equipment items, including seven XRT ore sorters, as part of its upgrade and refurbishment plans for the project’s processing plant.
READ: Tungsten West signs EPCM contract for Hemerdon tungsten and tin mine in Devon
“We are extremely excited to have broken ground at Hemerdon this week, marking an important milestone in the projects restart,” said chief executive Max Denning. “Ensuring the UK and the western hemisphere have got access to two key critical minerals has never been more profound.”
Currently the three major sources of tungsten concentrate are China, Vietnam and Russia.
Tungsten West also announced the appointment of James McFarlane, previously its technical and operations director, as managing director.
McFarlane has unrivalled knowledge of Hemerdon and had previously held senior roles in mining operations in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Australia, it said.