Xtract Resources Achieves Significant Milestone in Morocco
In a notable development, London-listed Xtract Resources has successfully secured a mining license for its Amghas antimony project located in north-west Morocco. This achievement marks a significant step forward as the company initiates the relocation of existing processing infrastructure from Casablanca directly to the project site. This strategic move is expected to enhance operational efficiency and expedite the project timeline.
Simultaneously, Xtract's 80%-owned subsidiary, Wildstone, is in the final stages of completing documentation for a processing permit aimed at establishing a gravity plant on-site. This facility represents the first phase in a larger, comprehensive regional processing strategy that Xtract is implementing. The gravity plant is anticipated to initially process output from the Amghas mine, as well as ore sourced from third-party small-scale miners, thereby creating a robust operational framework.
Looking ahead, the gravity plant will serve as a precursor to the development of a larger central flotation plant, which is designed to process materials not only from the Amghas mine but also from the neighboring Ighoud mine and local small-scale mining operations. Such an integrated approach is expected to enhance productivity and operational synergy across the region.
Colin Bird, the executive chairperson of Xtract, stated, "The grant of the Amghas mining license and the rapid mobilization of processing infrastructure mark an important milestone for Xtract in Morocco. With rehabilitation work completed, encouraging resource evaluations, and a 70,000 tons per year gravity plant moving toward operation, we believe Wildstone has a clear path to near-term antimony concentrate production. This will provide strong commercial proof for the viability of the planned larger flotation plant and our broader regional antimony strategy." This statement underscores the company's commitment to advancing its operations in Morocco and highlights the significant potential for antimony production in the region.
As reported by miningweekly.com.
