Andrada Mining increased contained tin production at its Uis mine in Namibia by 13% during the first half of its 2027 financial year, driven by higher ore grades and improved plant performance ahead of a N$98 million-funded upgrade expected to lift output further.
The company produced 576 tonnes of contained tin during the six months ended 31 August 2026, up from 511 tonnes in the same period last year.
Tin concentrate production increased 11% from 858 tonnes to 955 tonnes, while shipments rose from 25 to 36.
The improvement came as the average tin grade of ore fed into the plant increased 9% from 0.137% to 0.149%, while the plant processing rate rose 7% from 143 tonnes per hour to 153 tonnes per hour.
Andrada processed 538,810 tonnes of ore during the six months, up 2% from 527,583 tonnes a year earlier.
In the second quarter alone, contained tin production rose 6% to 290 tonnes, up from 273 tonnes in the corresponding quarter last year.
Tin concentrate production also increased 6% to 482 tonnes, while the feed grade improved from 0.139% tin to 0.152%.
The production increase comes as Andrada begins implementing upgrades at Uis after securing N$98 million in funding from Bank Windhoek and the Development Bank of Namibia in August.
The funding covers planned operational improvements, including a new crushing and ore-sorting circuit.
Andrada said implementation has started and long-lead equipment for the crushing circuit has been ordered.
The ore sorter is designed to remove lower-grade material before it enters the main processing plant, increasing the grade of ore being processed.
Andrada expects the system to increase annual tin concentrate production by between 50% and 70%, to about 2,500 to 3,000 tonnes.
That would translate into approximately 1,500 to 1,900 tonnes of contained tin annually.
Chief executive Anthony Viljoen said the latest production figures showed the benefits of improvements already made at Uis.
“The strong performance in the first half of FY2027 resulted in contained tin production increasing by 13% year-on-year to 576 tonnes and tin concentrate production increasing by 11% to 955 tonnes,” Viljoen said.
“This performance demonstrates the benefit of the operational improvements we have made at Uis and provides a stronger base from which to deliver the next phase of growth.”
He said higher feed grades and processing rates supported the increased production, while the N$98 million funding package would allow Andrada to install the ore-sorting circuit.
Plant availability averaged 91% in the first half, up from 90% a year earlier, while the recovery rate increased from 71% to 73%.
Plant utilisation, however, fell from 94% to 89%.
Andrada said the Uis mine enters the second half of the financial year with a stronger production base and a fully funded planned growth programme.
The company will continue installing the crushing and ore-sorting circuits during the second half alongside further operational improvements at the mine.
Andrada expects higher production also to lower the royalty rate applicable to its concentrate and improve operating margins and cash generation from Uis.
