This marks a pivotal transition from early-stage mine development to active mining operations and the final step before commencement of commercial production.
Lewis Black, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “This first ore placement represents a strategic inflection point in advancing Almonty’s mission to strengthen the global tungsten supply chain. Sangdong plays a critical role in efforts by the US, the EU, and Korea to diversify away from the China-dominated market, which currently supplies more than 80% of the world’s tungsten. The resumption of production at the Sangdong Mine forms the foundation for securing reliable, non-China tungsten supply to key sectors such as defence, semiconductors, AI hardware, aerospace, and other high-technology industries.”
The ROM pad functions as a staging area for ore that has just been brought out of the ground. Ore is first obtained inside the mine gallery through controlled blasting, then collected and transported through the haulage system. From there, a truck delivers it to the ROM pad, where it is stockpiled by grade before processing begins.
The ore placed on the ROM pad will now proceed to primary and secondary crushing, followed by grinding to achieve the particle size required for processing. The material will then advance to the flotation circuit, where tungsten-bearing minerals are selectively separated, concentrated, dried and packaged before being supplied to downstream customers. After stability and performance verification of the processing stages, the project will then move to the production stabilisation phase as the mine advances toward full-scale commercial operation.
“Our team has completed all key preparatory work including geological assessment, ground stabilisation, load testing, and equipment installation to advance the project to this milestone,” said Arif Priyambodo, General Manager of Processing Operations. “The first truckload of ore provides direct confirmation that the ROM pad is ready for operation and that the haulage routes, equipment coordination, and operator workflows are performing safely and effectively under production-level conditions. This successful verification demonstrates that the technical foundation of the Sangdong Mine is now firmly established, enabling the commissioning of the crushing, milling, and flotation circuits to proceed as planned and supporting a smooth ramp-up toward full production.”
CEO Black emphasised that the Sangdong Mine is the foundation of a new tungsten supply chain for the US and its allies beyond Chinese control, as well as returning Korea to its historic role as a key supplier of tungsten, “In the longer term, the Sangdong Mine’s production, combined with our upcoming tungsten oxide plant and the planned development of the molybdenum deposit, will form the basis of a fully integrated strategic-mineral value chain referred to as the ‘Korean Trinity’. This system will position Korea as a global hub for the production, refining, and upgrading of tungsten. It will also support US defence procurement requirements mandating non-China tungsten sourcing after 2027 and reduce Korea’s heavy dependence on Chinese tungsten oxide imports, significantly enhancing national resource security for the United States and its allies.”