Almonty Industries Inc. Appoints Fernando Vitorino as Chief Operating Officer of Almonty Korea Tungsten Corp.
Fernando Vitorino brings over 30 years of experience in mine management and over 40 years in financial management, with a proven track record in leadership, process optimization, and strategic growth. He has had key roles with Anglo Group subsidiaries in Mozambique and South Africa. He then returned to Portugal in 1993 to join Beralt Tin and Wolfram at Almonty's tungsten Panasqueira Mine, the oldest mining company in Portugal, progressing from Financial Controller to Financial Manager, and finally to General Manager, a position he held until 2013. Since then, he has been instrumental in managing general operations at Los Santos Mine while in operation as well as in care and maintenance, another Almonty tungsten mining operation located in Salamanca, in the western part of Spain, and at Almonty's Valtreixal project, Sn-WO3 project in North Western Spain. Both companies are 100% owned subsidiaries of Almonty Industries Inc.
"Fernando Vitorino's appointment reflects our commitment to strengthening our operations at the Sangdong Mine," stated Lewis Black, Chairman, President, and CEO of Almonty Industries. "His strategic insight and operational acumen will play a key role in the swift progress in building the tungsten processing plant, the production of tungsten concentrates and the construction of the tungsten oxide plant."
"I am thrilled to join AKTC at such an exciting time," stated Fernando Vitorino. "I look forward to working with the team to advance our operational capabilities and expedite construction for processing plant operations before mid-2025." Currently, the construction and civil engineering progress at the processing plant has reached 53.23% as of November 14, 2024, achieved within approximately 90 days since the work commenced.
In line with its production goals, Almonty aims to begin producing tungsten concentrate at the Sangdong Mine in 2025 and has accelerated its plans to construct the tungsten oxide plant by late 2026.
The rapid expansion of the Sangdong Mine takes on greater significance in the current political and economic climate. With the new incoming U.S. Administration and the anticipated implementation of governance policies based on protectionism, a substantial tightening of regulations on China is expected. As a result, the likelihood of U.S. companies diversifying their supply chains for critical minerals will rise, making price increases for resources such as tungsten inevitable.
The Sangdong Mine will allow Almonty to supply over 10% of global tungsten consumption and meet 100% of South Korea's domestic demand, supporting advanced sectors like secondary batteries and semiconductors that rely on a stable supply of this critical mineral.
**About Almonty**
Almonty Industries Inc., based in Toronto, Canada, is a leader in tungsten mining, processing, and shipping with projects in Spain, Portugal, and South Korea. The Company's Sangdong Mine in South Korea is one of the world's most substantial and high-grade tungsten deposits outside of China. Almonty is also developing the Valtreixal tin/tungsten project in Spain. For further information, please visit www.almonty.com or www.sedarplus.ca.
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Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to, no material adverse change in the market price of ammonium para tungstate (APT), the continuing ability to fund or obtain funding for outstanding commitments, expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters, no negative change to applicable laws, the ability to secure local contractors, employees and assistance as and when required and on reasonable terms, and such other assumptions and factors as are set out herein. Although Almonty has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Almonty. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary.
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Contact
Lewis Black, Chairman, President, and CEO
Telephone: +1 647 438-9766
Email: info@almonty.com