Alphamin directs Congo tin to new US smelter
The initial two-year deal covers up to 3,600 tonnes of contained tin annually from Bisie.
Alphamin Resources has struck a new agreement to supply tin concentrate to a U.S. smelter in Virginia, marking a shift in its sales strategy as Washington pushes for domestic minerals processing. The arrangement, set to last two years, could supply up to 3,600 tonnes of tin annually from the Bisie mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The tin will be sent to Nathan Trotter & Co.'s $65-million smelter in Virginia, which aims to start production next year. Alphamin, a Canadian company, is actively looking to diversify its customer base and boost western tin refining capacity. The deal represents about 18% of Bisie's annual output, connecting an established African mine to new U.S. refining capacity.
This could provide a potential source of tin for solder used in electronics and defense equipment for American manufacturers. The U.S. government has supported this project, awarding Nathan Trotter $19 million in 2024 to develop domestic tin processing. Despite this new supply line, Alphamin's concentrate is still largely directed towards China, where competitive processing charges have attracted its business.
Alphamin has faced security concerns in Congo, halting mining operations at Bisie in March 2025 but resuming them in April.
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