Staff Writer
Andrada Mining Limited has signed a cooperation agreement with the European Investment Bank to advance the feasibility study for the Uis Lithium Expansion Project in Namibia.
The agreement was concluded through Andrada’s wholly owned subsidiary, Uis Tin Mining Company (Proprietary) Limited. It will provide technical and project development support to move the lithium project to a bankable feasibility level.
The support will come through the EU-funded Critical Raw Materials Technical Assistance Facility under the EU–OACPS framework. Consulting services worth up to €2 million, about N$37.9 million, will be provided as a non-dilutive grant. The agreement carries no repayment obligations and no future funding commitments.
The EIB will manage the facility and oversee the appointment and management of consultants. Uis Tin Mining Company will guide the work and review the outputs.
The Uis Lithium Expansion Project aims to produce about 50 000 tonnes per year of lithium petalite concentrate. The lithium will be recovered from existing waste streams generated by the Uis Mine’s tin and tantalum operations. No increase in ore mining volumes is planned.
Andrada Mining chief executive officer Anthony Viljoen said the partnership will speed up the company’s lithium development plans and strengthen the role of the Uis Mine in global critical minerals supply chains. He said the project is expected to deliver economic and social benefits in Namibia while supporting the European Union’s critical minerals supply framework.
EIB Director for Corporates and Global Activities Andrea Clerici said lithium is classified as both a critical and strategic raw material under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act. He said the bank supports projects that diversify supply while maintaining environmental and social standards and encouraging cooperation between African and European partners.
The Uis Mine produces tin and tantalum concentrates. Lithium mineralisation occurs primarily as petalite. Andrada plans to add a lithium beneficiation circuit to the existing processing plant and reprocess waste material from the tin and tantalum concentrator.
Previous studies have taken the project to a pre-feasibility level. In the longer term, Andrada is considering a second phase of development to supply lithium concentrate to refiners that produce lithium chemicals for the battery industry.
The work under the new agreement will focus on metallurgical testing and related infrastructure studies needed to move the project to a bankable feasibility level.
