Canadian Tantalex will launch production of tin and tantalum concentrate in 2023 in the DRC
In Africa, the DRC and Namibia are the two main producers of tin. While Namibia has gradually increased its production in recent years thanks to the Uis mine, the DRC does not intend to give up ground and can count on new projects.
In the DRC, Tantalex Lithium Resources will start producing tin concentrate and tantalum concentrate as early as March 2023, at the Titan project. This announcement made on Monday, October 31 by the Canadian mining company follows the obtaining of two mining concessions in the Manono region, in place of the exploration permits it previously held.
This transformation of licenses into mining concessions opens the way, we learn, to the “immediate” construction of a processing plant capable of producing 1,400 tonnes of tin concentrate and 220 tonnes of tantalum concentrate annually. The revenues generated by this project should amount to 30 million dollars each year, if we consider the current prices of these two products.
“This will be the most modern alluvial plant in operation in the DRC and we believe this is probably only the first of many that we will be installing,” commented Hadley Natus, President of Tantalex.
As a reminder, Tantalex is also active in lithium, still in the Manono region, where it is piloting a tailings project. Part of the income from its tantalum-tin plant will therefore be allocated to the development of this other project.
African tin production is dominated by Namibia, mainly thanks to AfriTin’s Uis mine, and the DRC where the mining company Alphamin operates the Bisie mine.
