Andrada Mining Ltd (AIM:ATM, OTC:AFTTF) has commissioned a pilot plant to produce lithium from its Uis mine in Namibia, with 10 tonnes of saleable concentrate generated so far.
Production is scheduled to ramp up to 250 tonnes per month during the first quarter of 2024, with material being used in ongoing tests to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide.
Adjacent to the main tin processing facility at the Uis Mine, the new pilot plant is also designed to produce sufficient bulk samples of petalite concentrate for the premium specialist glass and ceramics markets.
Discussions with an off-taker for supply of high-purity petalite are progressing well, Andrada said in a statement, while talks with potential strategic partners are progressing.
Anthony Viljoen, Andrada's chief executive, commented: “The pilot plant serves as a crucial de-risking element in the company's lithium portfolio.
"We believe that our efforts throughout the year have the potential to place Andrada at the forefront of lithium development in Africa.
"The discovery of additional lithium within the company-owned Lithium Ridge and Spodumene Hill also underscores the possibility that Namibia's Erongo region could be a key participant in the global lithium landscape, with the potential to host a cluster of significant mines.”