Name of the Project
Uis tin project.

Location
The Uis project consists of three project areas in the Erongo region of Namibia.

Project Owner/s
AfriTin Mining.

Project Description
AfriTin has undertaken a detailed mine design for the V1 and V2 pegmatite bodies, previously identified as priority targets, to supply feed to the new intermediary processing plant.

The design of the proposed tin mine includes an initial five-year mine production schedule to start operations on the outcropping pegmatite bodies and existing excavations of the historical V1 and V2 pits.

This in-house mine plan supports an overburden stripping ratio (overburden-to-ore) of less than one and a fast ramp-up profile using conventional openpit mining methods.

Material will be liberated using drill-and-blast methods, while excavators and articulated dump trucks will be used to load and haul the ore.

The run-of-mine feed to the processing plant for this phase of development (Phase 1) is planned at 500 000 t/y, with expected production of 800 t/y of saleable tin concentrate. The target for the following phase is 5 000 t/y of tin concentrate.

The processing plant will be located close to the V1 and V2 pegmatite orebodies.

Other potentially viable metals include tantalum, niobium, lithium, beryllium and muscovite.

Potential Job Creation
AfriTin is recruiting operational personnel, with about one-third of the total planned complement of 90 people having been appointed, including the entire management team.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Not stated.

Planned Start /End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
AfriTin Mining has raised £3.8-million through the issue of unsecured loan notes as it continues with the development of its flagship Uis tin mine, which is in the commissioning phase.

The notes have been placed with a strategic African tin trading group, AfriMet Resources, as part of a collaborative partnership to identify further opportunities for the company, as well as with existing shareholders.

The net proceeds will be used for general working capital purposes pertaining to the progression of the project towards feasibility studies for the Phase 2 expansion and initial testwork on the recently announced lithium discovery within the pegmatite orebody.

Meanwhile, Phase 1 mining operations are performing well and about two months’ worth of stockpiled ore have been delivered to the plant.

The construction of the grid power connection has been completed and energised. There was a slight delay to the original timeframe, mainly owing to the procurement processes of the Namibian Power Corporation.

This has resulted in some plant availability issues, which are expected to be resolved.

At the processing plant, the crushing circuit has been performing in line with the company's expectations.

The final outstanding commissioning and ramp-up activities are focused on the concentrator circuit, which has required a series of refinements to balance the material flows and the dewatering of ore. Good progress has been made in fine-tuning these circuits and ramp-up is progressing.

The final product is delivering a saleable tin concentrate with low contaminant values. Accordingly, AfriTin is preparing to make a proportionate first shipment of tin concentrate towards the end of November.

Future shipments will upscale in size as the ramp-up of Phase 1 production continues.

The ramp-up of Phase 1 is progressing well overall, but full nameplate capacity of 60 t/y is now expected to extend into 2020 after commissioning completion.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
MRI (buying station).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
AfriTin Mining, tel +27 11 268 6555.