AfriTin locates lithium near Uis mine
• By Business Reporter
AIM-LISTED AfriTin Mining has identified lithium-bearing spodumene within multiple pegmatites on a mining licence located 11 km southwest of its Uis tin mine in the Erongo region.
Notably, the discovery lies within the operational limits of the Uis processing facility and marks the first result of an early-stage regional exploration programme.
The company intends to conduct a further exploration drilling programme on this target this year, with the aim of adding to the existing lithium resource at Uis.
“The discovery of spodumene during our current exploration programme is an exciting development that highlights the significant potential of our licence areas in Namibia and provides a promising target for AfriTin’s operations within the region.
“The new discovery reaffirms our development goals and supports the overall strategy of building a diverse portfolio of technology metals,” says CEO Anthony Viljoen.
He added that the company which is currently implementing its phase one expansion project aims to cultivate a positive community sentiment to maintain its social licence to operate while ensuring a positive partnership with local companies and regional stakeholders.
The expansion will result in a 67 percent increase in monthly tin concentrate production, from 720 t/y to 1 200 t/y.
Last week, Confidente reported that AfriTin intends to foster this positive community sentiment in various ways, of which the first is to empower community-based support services in its contracts using local and regional procurement.
“AfriTin aims to employ 30 percent of its workforce directly from the Uis and Dâures constituencies, 30 percent from the Erongo region, and the remainder Namibian citizens from the rest of Namibia,” Viljoen said last week.
Moreover, AfriTin currently procures 90 percent of its goods and services from Namibia, including the company’s mining, load and haul, drilling, blasting, medical, environmental, and engineering and IT contractors.
In addition, the Uis Tin Mining Company senior management consists of 75 percent previously disadvantaged women, says Viljoen.
To further support the community, AfriTin has implemented various measures to ensure a positive partnership with local companies, as well as local and regional stakeholders.
“The company engages with the Settlement Development Council (SDC) on a quarterly basis.”