Name of the Project
Uis tin project.

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

Client
AfriTin Mining.

Project Description
Uis has a non-Joint Ore Reserves Committee- (Jorc-) compliant resource of 73-million tonnes grading 0.136% tin, and an additional 2.7-million tonnes at 0.015% tantalum pentoxide. 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 Uis 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/V2 pits.

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

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

The run-of-mine (RoM) feed to the processing plant, for this phase of development, 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.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Production is scheduled for the second half of 2018.

Latest Developments
AfriTin Mining is looking forward to achieving its target of processing the first material through the pilot plant at its Uis mine by the end of this year, after having achieved several important milestones in the six-month period ended August 31.

Construction of the pilot plant has progressed well and should be concluded in the next six months, with first RoM material to the plant is expected by year-end.
 

The purpose of Phase 1 is to provide early cash flow to AfriTin and to provide a platform to transition the project into a bankable feasibility study (BFS) and, ultimately, a Phase 2 plant capable of producing 5 000 t/y of tin concentrate.
 

Meanwhile, verification drilling and a Jorc- compliant resource at the mine are expected to be completed by early 2019.

Once AfriTin has started to produce tin concentrate from the pilot plant, it is expected that it will continue to expand its footprint in the region through acquisitions and conducting further work that will be done on the other mining licence areas that form part of the AfriTin portfolio.

As a result of the accelerated development of the flagship project, the board of directors plans to raise a further £6-million to advance the construction of the plant, as well as initiate work on the BFS and undertake a drilling programme to bring the historic resources into Jorc compliance.

The results from the regional mapping programme have also assisted AfriTin in identifying further licence areas of interest and acquisition.

The company has entered into an agreement with trading company MRI, to establish a buying station for local artisanal workers. The purpose of this is to establish economic activity on the ground as part of a community upliftment programme.

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.