Andrada delivers on early promise

Five years of consistent progress continue transforming Namibia’s historic Uis mine

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions.  

When I first visited what was then AfriTin’s Uis Mine in Namibia in 2021, the operation was still in the early stages of its revival.

Then, production just started and a new processing plant was taking shape. But the company ambitions extended further than producing on tin. Five years later, many of those early expectations have become reality.

Back then I wrote that Uis possessed one of the world’s largest pegmatite-hosted tin systems and that the real opportunity lay in continued exploration. I also highlighted the significant potential for lithium, tantalum and tungsten across the broader Damaraland pegmatite belt.

Diversified critical minerals company

Today, operating as Andrada Mining, the company has evolved from a junior tin producer into a diversified critical minerals company. Its processing platform has expanded and includes a tantalum recovery circuit, while ore sorting is set to further improve efficiencies at Uis and accelerate development at Brandberg West.

The latest quarterly results demonstrate just how far the company has progressed. Uis delivered record quarterly production of 286 tonnes of contained tin and 473 tonnes of tin concentrate, while plant throughput increased to 154 tonnes per hour. At the same time, Andrada secured funding for further expansion, positioning the operation to generate stronger cash flows during a period of robust tin prices.

Exploration unlocks more value

Perhaps even more encouraging is that exploration continues to unlock new value. At Lithium Ridge, drilling has returned near-surface lithium grades of up to 3.46% Li₂O, together with significant tin and tantalum mineralisation, reinforcing the potential for a globally significant lithium project. Meanwhile, early ore-sorting results at Brandberg West suggest substantial improvements in tin, tungsten and copper grades, creating a potentially low-cost route towards future production.

The geology that first attracted investors remains one of Andrada’s greatest strengths. The extensive pegmatite systems around Uis continue to demonstrate exceptional scale, while Namibia itself offers political stability, good transport infrastructure, established mining legislation and an investment-friendly environment that few African jurisdictions can match.

Creating shareholders value

The company’s journey from AfriTin to Andrada Mining illustrates how consistent exploration, disciplined investment and operational execution can steadily create shareholder value. Rather than chasing quick wins, Andrada has methodically built multiple growth opportunities around a profitable producing mine.

WhyAfrica will return to Namibia during the 2026 WhyAfrica RES Road Trip through Africa, where we look forward to seeing first-hand how this remarkable transformation continues to unfold.

You can read my 2021 article by clicking on this click:  https://www.whyafrica.co.za/afritin-in-namibia-is-whyafricas-pick-of-the-week/

Image: Early work at Uis in 2021. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica

Leon Louw provides independent consulting services to investors, businesses and organisations seeking a deeper understanding of Africa’s political, economic and natural resource landscape.

Andrada delivers on early promise