The information contained within this announcement is deemed
by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 (MAR) as in force in
the United Kingdom pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act
2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory
Information Service (RIS), this inside information will be in the
public domain.
21 June
2024
Andrada Mining Limited
("Andrada" or the "Company")
Operational update for the
quarter ended 31 May 2024
Andrada Mining Limited (AIM: ATM, OTCQB: ATMTF), the African
technology metals mining company with a portfolio of mining and
exploration assets in Namibia, hereby provides an unaudited
operational update for the quarter ended 31 May 2024 ("Q1 FY2025").
HIGHLIGHTS
Operations
§ Year-on-year
("YoY") increase in ore
processed to 237 976 tonnes (Q1 FY2024: 217 189
tonnes).
§ YoY increase in tin
concentrate production to 364 tonnes (Q1 FY2024: 359
tonnes).
§ YoY increase in
contained tin production to 223 tonnes (Q1 FY2024: 216
tonnes).
§ Plant availability
increased to 93% (Q1 FY2024: 91%).
§ Production of nine
tonnes of saleable tantalum concentrate, constituting a 14%
increase quarter-on-quarter ("QoQ"). Of this, five tonnes were
shipped to AfriMet during the quarter per the offtake
agreement
§ YoY increase in
realised tin price from USD 25 149
to USD30 839 per tonne of contained tin.
Financial
As set out below, management has maintained its
guidance on costs despite the introduction of the Orion royalty
charges and ongoing mining cost increases. The mine and plant
performance are expected to remain stable during the financial year
as the pre-concentration circuit and Continuous Improvement 2
("CI2") initiatives are implemented. The enhanced plant
performance, following the completion of the expansion programme,
is expected to reduce operational costs.
§ Management guidance
on quarterly average C11 costs is maintained at between
USD17 000 and USD20 000 per
tonne of contained tin. USD18 899 recorded in Q1 FY2025, which is
within the guidance range.
§ Management guidance
on quarterly average C22 costs is maintained between
USD20 000 and
USD25 000 per tonne of contained tin. USD23 452
recorded in Q1 FY2025, which is within the guidance
range.
§ Management guidance
on quarterly average all-in sustaining cost ("AISC") is maintained between
USD25 000 and
USD30 000 per tonne of contained tin. USD28 774
recorded in Q1 FY2025, which is within the guidance
range.
§ Unaudited cash
balance on 31 May 2024 was GBP11.9 million (USD15.2
million).
Anthony Viljoen, Chief Executive Officer,
commented:
"Exposing planned ore zones has
reduced our stripping ratio at Uis, to 1.5:1 as at the end of May
2024. Coinciding favourably with our expansion of both tin
concentrate and contained tin production, we are ideally positioned
to capitalise on the tin price rally that began in April 2024.
Despite the plant outages during the quarter, I am pleased to
confirm that all the issues were resolved and will not repeat in
the future.
We successfully produced and
delivered our first five-tonne consignment of tantalum to AfriMet
during the quarter, with the second consignment produced and
targeted for shipment in the second quarter. This is an important
milestone for the Company, that places us firmly on the path to
becoming a multi-mineral producer of critical metals. We look
forward to a continuation of this supply agreement.
Given the diversity of the minerals
within our mining licences, we have broadened the scope of our
strategic process beyond just the Uis mining licence. The expansion
of the scope has the potential to unlock multiple partnership
opportunities across our portfolio of assets. This process is
progressing well, and we look forward to providing an
update.
We remain highly optimistic for the
remainder of the year based on the value that will be unlocked
across the portfolio."
OPERATIONAL review
TIN
Review of performance
Ore processed increased by 10% YoY but remained
unchanged QoQ at 238kt. The plant processing rate was slightly
lower at 134 tph, compared to 135 tph in Q1 FY2024
and 137 tph in Q4 FY2024,
mainly due to plant outages during the quarter. The outages
resulted from a malfunction in the ore preparation section, which
was expediently repaired, it did not have a material impact on
operations and is not expected to recur. Consequently, the tin
concentrate production decreased to 364 tonnes (Q4
FY2024: 371 tonnes), resulting in a decrease in
contained tin to 223 tonnes (Q4 FY2024: 231
tonnes). However, the YoY tin concentrate and
contained tin tonnages marginally increased, reflecting the
positive impact of the FY 2023 expansion project.
Table 1: Uis Mine unaudited TIN
production and cost performance
Description
|
Unit
|
Q1 FY2024
|
Q4 FY2024
|
Q1 FY2025
|
YoY
% Δ
|
QoQ
% Δ
|
Feed grade
|
% Sn
|
0.151
|
0.137
|
0.141
|
-7%
|
3%
|
Plant processing
rate
|
tonnes per
hour
|
135
|
137
|
134
|
-1%
|
-2%
|
Ore
processed
|
tonnes
|
217
189
|
238
022
|
237 976
|
10%
|
0%
|
Tin
concentrate
|
tonnes
|
359
|
371
|
364
|
1%
|
-2%
|
Contained
tin
|
tonnes
|
216
|
231
|
223
|
3%
|
-3%
|
Tin
recovery*
|
%
|
70
|
72
|
69
|
-1%
|
-4%
|
Plant
availability
|
%
|
91
|
89
|
93
|
2%
|
4%
|
Plant
utilisation
|
%
|
79
|
89
|
87
|
10%
|
-2%
|
Uis mine C1 operating
cost¹
|
USD/t contained
tin
|
15
741
|
16
273
|
18 899
|
20%
|
16%
|
Uis mine C2 operating
cost²
|
USD/t contained
tin
|
18
235
|
18
775
|
23 452
|
29%
|
25%
|
Uis mine
AISC³
|
USD/t contained
tin
|
21
377
|
27
800⁴
|
28 774
|
35%
|
4%
|
Tin price
achieved
|
USD/t contained
tin
|
25
149
|
26
125
|
30 839
|
23%
|
18%
|
Average stripping
ratio
|
Ratio
|
2.6:1
|
4.3:1
|
2.4:1
|
|
|
1.
C1¹ refers to
operating cash cost per unit of production excluding selling
expenses and sustaining capital
expenditure associated with Uis Mine.
2.
C2² refers to operating cash cost is C1 plus
selling expenses
including logistics, smelting and royalties.
3. All-in sustaining
cost³ incorporates all costs related to sustaining production;
capital expenditure associated with developing and maintaining the
Uis operation as well as pre-stripping waste mining
costs.
4. ⁴ Updated figure
incorporating the Orion tin royalty payment that was reconciled and
paid post Q4 FY2024.
*Tin recovery includes
stockpiles.
Pre-concentration circuit expansion
update
The XRT ore sorters from TOMRA and the crusher
circuit from Metso are expected in H2 CY2024 and construction of
the pre-concentration circuit is targeted for completion in Q1
CY2025 with commissioning commencing in April 2025.
MetC
Engineering has commenced the detailed plant
design in line with the planned project timelines. The ore sorting
pre-concentration circuit will be installed parallel to the front
end of the existing processing plant to minimise disruptions to the
tin and tantalum production.
The CI2 programme initiatives are ongoing and
have also been aligned with the plant expansion project timeline to
ensure optimal production output. Development of the lithium pilot
plant paves the way for integration into the existing tin
processing plant. Further assessment and modelling of the
integrated plant has resulted in an increase in the planned
petalite production tonnage from 30 000tpa to between
40 000tpa and 50 000tpa. Studies on the integration of
the lithium circuit are underway and are designed to target the
production of petalite using near infra-red ore-sorting to process
discard material from the XRT ore sorters (see announcement dated 12 March
2024).
TANTALUM
Approximately nine tonnes of
tantalum concentrate were produced during the quarter, an increase
of 14% from approximately eight tonnes produced during Q4 FY2024.
The Company has supplied AfriMet with a five-tonne consignment and
has received a 90% provisional payment. A second consignment has
been produced and targeted for shipment in Q2 FY2025. Tantalum
prices have been increasing steadily since mid-May because of the
conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has restricted
supply from selected key mining areas. Furthermore, recent
increased purchasing interest from smelters is expected to support
the elevated prices.
Tantalum production
|
|
|
|
Tantalum
concentrate
|
tonnes
|
9
|
Contained
Ta₂O₅
|
kg
|
865
|
Tantalum
concentrate grade
|
%
|
10
|
Tantalum
recovery
|
%
|
3
|
LITHIUM
Lithium Pilot Plant
The facility has been primarily utilised for
bulk sampling campaigns, and there has been limited commercial
production during the quarter. Commercial petalite
production for off-take agreements will be undertaken through the
extension circuit that will be added to the current
plant following the completion of the pre-concentration
circuit (see
announcement dated 12 March 2024).
FINANCial review
COST OVERVIEW
The C1 cost of USD18 899 was within
management guidance YoY but comparatively higher QoQ due to the
once-off plant outages that have been rectified. The combination of
processing and inflationary mining cost increases resulted in the
double-digit increase QoQ. The C2 cost at USD23 452 was also
within management guidance despite the increase in the Orion
royalty provision by over 100% to USD 352 763. The royalty rate is
expected to be 5.13% until 2 600 tonnes per annum of tin
concentrate production rate is achieved in CY2025. The mine
completed its accelerated push-back initiative at the end of
February 2024 resulting in an average stripping ratio of 2.6:1 for
the quarter improving to 1.5:1 by the end of May 2024. The lower
stripping ratio resulted in a lower increase in AISC QoQ relative
to the 35% increase YoY before the implementation of the
accelerated push-back required to expose planned ore zones. The LOM
stripping ratio is expected to be 3.5:1
BANK WINDHOEK FUNDING
UPDATE
Andrada confirms that the administrative
processes related to the finalisation of the conditional NAD175
million (GBP7.6 million) agreements between the subsidiary Uis Tin
Mining Company (PTY) Ltd and Bank Windhoek Limited ("BWL"), are
progressing as planned. The requisite offer documents
were signed by the Company and BWL within the conditional 30-day
period. The Company is pleased to confirm that the deal teams for
all parties have been engaged and several workstreams have
commenced. The Company anticipates concluding the funding agreement
by Q3 CY 2024
CASHFLOW MANAGEMENT
Cash decreased from GBP17.5 million (USD22.2
million) at the end of February 2024 to GBP11.9 million (USD15.2
million) on 31 May 2024 mainly due to payments for the
pre-concentration circuit project and increased volume of ore
stockpiles in preparation for the expanded plant capacity. The
conclusion of the BWL agreement will potentially provide
GBP7.6 million (USD9.7
million) towards general working capital, ongoing
exploration, metallurgy and study workstreams.
Finally, discussions with regards to other
funding options with several global lenders are ongoing with the
objective to enhance the optionality on project execution. All
near-term projects are fully funded.
TIN HEDGE
In view of recent tin price volatility and to
minimise financial risk, the Company concluded a hedging instrument
with Standard Bank Namibia Limited in respect of the first 20
tonnes of contained tin shipped every month in the period from June
2024 to May 2025. The price under this agreement is fixed at
USD33 000 per tonne.
A tin price rally started in April 2024 due to
a combination of supply tightness resulting from decreased exports
from Myanmar and Indonesia as well as declining inventory in China.
Speculative interest has also contributed to the rally, with
experts cautioning against an excessively bullish view of future
pricing. The LME tin spot price was USD25 450 on 2 January 2024,
increasing to above USD30 000 on 10 April and peaking at
USD35 275 on 22 April 2024. The average daily price from April
2024 to date has been approximately USD32 700, with a figure
of USD30 900 applicable for the quarter. The uncertainty in
pricing informed the decision to enter into the hedging agreement.
Based on contained tin production in FY 2024 the hedge is over
approximately 30% of the quarterly production.
STRATEGIC PROCESS
The Company continues to engage with its
Strategic Process with the primary objective to enhance shareholder
value through partnerships to develop its assets.
Given the diversity of the minerals within
the Company's mining licences, Andrada has now
expanded the Strategic Process to explore multiple potential
partnerships with varied investors, across all assets in its
portfolio. The Company is confident that this strategy will unlock
greater long-term value.
The Company will provide updates in due
course.
Glossary of abbreviations
CY
|
Calendar
year for the 12 months ending December
|
FY
|
Financial
year for the 12 months ending March
|
GBP
|
British
pound sterling
|
LOM
|
Life of
mine
|
NAD
|
Namibian
dollar
|
Q1
|
First
quarter ending May
|
Q4
|
Fourth
quarter ending February
|
USD
|
United
States dollar
|
CONTACT
|
|
|
ANDRADA MINING
LIMITED
|
|
|
Anthony
Viljoen, CEO
Sakhile
Ndlovu, Investor Relations
|
+27 (11)
268 6555
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINATED
ADVISOR
|
|
|
WH Ireland
Limited
Katy
Mitchell
|
+44 (0) 207
220 1666
|
|
|
|
|
CORPORATE BROKER &
ADVISOR
|
|
|
H&P Advisory
Limited
Andrew
Chubb
Jay
Ashfield
Matt
Hasson
|
+44 (0) 20
7907 8500
|
|
|
|
|
Berenberg
Jennifer
Lee
Natasha
Ninkov
|
+44 (0) 20
3753 3040
|
|
|
|
|
WHI Capital
Markets
Harry
Ansell
|
+44 (0) 20
7220 1670
|
|
|
|
|
FINANCIAL PUBLIC
RELATIONS
|
|
|
Tavistock (United
Kingdom)
Jos
Simson
Charles
Vivian
Adam
Baynes
|
+44 (0) 207
920 3150
andrada@tavistock.co.uk
|
|
|
|
| |
About Andrada Mining Limited
Andrada Mining Limited, formerly
Afritin Mining Limited, is a London-listed technology metals mining
company with a vision to create a portfolio of globally
significant, conflict-free, production and exploration assets. The
Company's flagship asset is the Uis Mine in Namibia, formerly the
world's largest hard-rock open cast tin mine and currently being
re-developed as a major tin-tantalum-lithium producer.
An exploration drilling programme is currently underway with the aim of
expanding the tin resource over the fourteen additional,
historically mined pegmatites that occur within a 5 km radius of
the current processing plant. The Company has set a mineral
resource target of 200 Mt to be delineated within the next 5
years. The existing mine, together with its
substantial mineral resource potential, allows the Company to
consider economies of scale.
Andrada is managed by a board of
directors with broad industry knowledge and a management team with
extensive commercial and technical skills. Furthermore, the Company
is committed to the sustainable development of its operations and
the growth of its business. This is demonstrated by the way the
leadership team places significant emphasis on creating value for
the wider community, investors, and other key stakeholders. Andrada
has established an environmental, social and governance system that
has been implemented at all levels of the Company and aligns with
international standards.