Modern Mining June 2020

Operations at Uis Tin Mine have returned to full scale following easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures in Namibia. Mining returns to full scale at Uis Tin Mine

month towards design capacity. “We are working hard to optimise the pilot plant and are pleased to announce the results of an internal review which should see increased production capac- ity, and the potential extraction of lithium as an additional revenue stream along with tantalum. “Our Phase 1 pilot plant was designed to deliver early positive cash flows, while demonstrating the feasibility of a much larger Phase 2 mine development on this significant multi-commodity deposit. The results of the internal financial model show that the plant, with a few modifications, has the capability and potential of producing an IRR of 60% and an NPV of US$122-million for all stages of Phase 1. Our long-term focus remains on ramping up the project as part of the planned Phase 2, which will ultimately be responsible for approximately 1% of global tin supply.” 

AfriTin Mining Limited (AIM: ATM), an African tin mining company which owns the Uis Tin Mine in Namibia, says opera- tions have returned to full scale following easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures in the country. The company has implemented strict COVID-19 mitigation measures across its operations to safeguard the workforce. The Phase 1 pilot plant throughput has been delayed, but has increased steadily month- on-month, with optimisation work resumed to reach design capacity. The company has instituted an internal review with a financial evaluation model for Phase 1 pilot plant operation which now includes identified staged modifica- tions that could potentially increase NPV to USD122-million and IRR to 60%, by 50% increased production capacity and

improved recoveries beyond initial design capacity; further expansion of tin and tantalum concentrate production; and pro- cessing of lithium ore to generate a new by-product revenue stream. “I ampleased to report the easing of mea- sures in Namibia and South Africa following the COVID-19 lockdown and the implemen- tation of new health measures across the company to protect our employees from the global pandemic,” says Anthony Viljoen, CEO of AfriTin Mining Limited. “We have not been immune to the dis- ruptions caused by the lockdowns and have experienced delays in the supply chain from Namibia and South Africa. The disruption has impacted the optimisa- tion process, but activity levels have now returned to pre-lockdown levels and the ramp up is steadily increasing month-on-

June 2020  MODERN MINING  9