Andrada Mining Limited has begun an ambitious exploration drilling campaign at its Lithium Ridge project in Namibia, in partnership with global lithium producer Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA (SQM) through its Australian subsidiary.
This marks the first stage of a three-phase earn-in agreement under which SQM will fund up to US$7 million in exploration to secure an initial 30% stake, with the potential to invest as much as US$40 million across all stages.
The current programme will drive 14,000 metres of oriented diamond drilling across priority lithium targets, supported by high-resolution geological mapping and sampling.
Early work has already confirmed the presence of new pegmatites containing visible spodumene mineralisation, adding to historical results of up to 2.13% Li₂O across a six-kilometre mineralised ridgeline.
Anthony Viljoen, Andrada’s Chief Executive Officer, described the launch as a pivotal moment: “The commencement of drilling at Lithium Ridge with our tier-1 joint-venture partner, SQM, is a significant step forward in unlocking one of Namibia’s most exciting lithium opportunities.
The encouraging historical results of up to 2.13% Li₂O along the 6km ridge line are already being complemented by a new geological mapping and sampling programme that has identified additional mineralised pegmatites containing visible spodumene crystals.
This strengthens our confidence in the scale and quality of the project.
The investment by SQM underscores Lithium Ridge’s potential and Namibia’s growing role in the global supply of critical minerals.
“We expect this programme to provide the foundation for fast-tracking the project towards development.”
Situated only 35 kilometres from Andrada’s producing Uis tin mine, the Lithium Ridge licence hosts multiple lithium-bearing pegmatites with tin and tantalum credits. The 14,000-metre drilling programme will comprise around 120 oriented holes aimed at proving depth extensions and continuity of mineralisation already mapped at surface.
Previous work demonstrated grades of up to 2.13% Li₂O with metallurgical recoveries of up to 80%, yielding a premium 6.8% Li₂O concentrate with low iron content.
For Andrada, the campaign is designed not only to unlock the full potential of the ridgeline but also to extend exploration into the wider licence area where fresh spodumene-bearing pegmatites have been identified.
If successful, this stage will provide the geological foundation to advance Lithium Ridge toward becoming a large-scale, high-quality lithium project that strengthens Namibia’s position as a future hub for critical minerals.
