Modern Mining September 2025

CRITICAL MINERALS

Andrada in the critical minerals sweet spot By Nelendhre Moodley

The race to secure critical minerals is hotting up, with the US actively courting new partners and making significant investment moves. This competition is reshaping geopolitical dynamics and sparking new investment and exploration activities worldwide. Africa, a rich source of critical minerals, holds several trump cards as a producer of key commodities in the critical minerals’ portfolio. This healthy demand is good news for critical minerals miner, Andrada Mining, which is making bold moves.

A ndrada currently produces tin and tantalum from its operations in Namibia and has produced lithium bulk samples from its pilot plant for potential off-takers. The company owns two mining licences namely Uis (ML34) and Lithium Ridge (ML133) as well as an exploration licence, Brandberg West (EPL5445). Andrada’s flagship asset, Uis mine, is a brownfield asset with a polymetallic orebody. The need for critical minerals is underpinned by the global shift towards clean energy technologies and the increasing electrification of various sectors. Apart from Andrada’s recently inked partnership with SQM on a US$40 million investment to develop Lithium Ridge, the company has announced a strategic investment alliance with Talent10. Talent10, a strategic long-term investor in the mining industry, has invested £4.5 million (c US$6

million) through an equity subscription for an 8% stake in the company, Andrada Mining’s CEO, Anthony Viljoen, tells Modern Mining. The £4.5 million will be used to support the completion of key outstanding capital projects at Andrada’s flagship asset - Uis Tin Mine in Namibia. In parallel with the investment by Talent10, the company launched shares for new and existing investors, offering them an opportunity to participate in its expansion initiatives. Andrada’s capital investment projects include: the installation of ore sorters and infrastructure upgrades at the existing Uis processing plant, and the commissioning of a second processing (jig) plant as it targets additional production. Some £2.6 million is allocated for the ore sorters and around £1.8 million is earmarked for accelerating the commissioning of the jig plant.

Truck collecting ore from the pit at Uis Tin Mine.

16  MODERN MINING  www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | SEPTEMBER 2025