Andrada Mining has successfully commissioned its pilot plant at Uis Mine in Namibia’s Erongo region, producing 10 tonnes of saleable lithium concentrate on specification.
The company plans to ramp up production by up to 250 tonnes per month during the first quarter of 2024.
The pilot plant commissioner on 26 July 2019 consists of two main parts: a four-stage crushing circuit and a three-stage concentrating circuit.
Andrada completed the hot commissioning of the crushing circuit in June 2019 and the cold commissioning of the concentrating circuit, which includes water testing of the wet circuits, on 28 July 2019.
Hot commissioning is when the plant processes are placed in conjunction with the control systems, while cold commissioning involves inspections and verifications on the central systems both in the phase before switching on.
Andrada says the initial objective of the pilot plant is to produce sufficient bulk samples of petalite concentrate within specifications for the premium specialist glass and ceramics markets.
According to the company, the pilot plant should produce concentrate for metallurgical testwork to determine appropriate specifications for the lithium battery refinery market.
Andrada intends to produce a concentrate for initial commercial sales into the spot market by the end of February 2024.
The company’s CEO, Anthony Viljoen, says their efforts in 2023 could place Andrada at the forefront of lithium development in Africa.
Viljoen says the discovery of additional lithium within the company’s Lithium Ridge and Spodumene Hill also underscores the possibility that Namibia’s Erongo region could be a key participant in the global lithium landscape, potentially hosting a cluster of significant mines.
“The early results from the recently commissioned lithium processing pilot facility have instilled unwavering optimism,” Viljoen says.
He adds that Andrada is negotiating with lithium off-takers who target the company’s involvement in all downstream lithium markets.
“Overall, we consider the pilot plant to serve as a crucial de-risking element in the Company’s lithium portfolio, further bolstering our confidence in Andrada’s lithium strategy,” Viljoen says.
