As the only currently operating primary source of tin in Europe, Mina de Penouta was an important visit for International Tin Association (ITA). Owned by Strategic Minerals Europe, Penouta is also the only current European supplier of tantalum and niobium. Over the past few years, Strategic Minerals have mined tailings from past mining projects, but broke ground on the open pit in March 2022.

The open pit will be developed in two phases: initial mining will take place in the upper portions while the lower areas are dewatered. Tailings from the dewatered pit will then be blended with primary ore, before the pit is expanded deeper. Production at Penouta is set to increase to around 60 tonnes tin-in-concentrate per month with the initiation of open pit mining and improvements to the processing plant made in January.

More information: https://www.internationaltin.org/ita-visits-spanish-tin-stakeholders/