The mining facility inspection certificates were issued on 17 September 2026 and represent the final administrative requirement before Almonty can commercially process tungsten ore into concentrate for customers in South Korea and overseas markets.
Sangdong Moves Into Commercial Operation
The certification marks the next stage in the development of the Sangdong Mine, following construction, trial operations and commissioning. Almonty has been running ore through the processing plant since June 2026, with the latest approval now allowing the resulting tungsten concentrate to be invoiced, shipped and delivered commercially.
Under South Korean mining regulations, the processing facilities and equipment were required to pass inspection before they could enter commercial operation.
With the certificates now issued, Almonty can crush and process ore mined at Sangdong into saleable tungsten concentrate.
More Than 90% of Phase I Production Contracted
The company already has substantial demand secured for its planned production. In July 2026, Almonty amended its long-term offtake agreement with Global Tungsten & Powders LLC, part of Austria’s Plansee Group.
The agreement now extends for 21 years from first delivery and covers a total contracted volume of 4.41 million metric tonne units of tungsten concentrate. Following the ramp-up period, minimum contracted volumes are set at 210,000 MTU per year.
According to Almonty, the agreement covers more than 90% of Sangdong’s Phase I production.
A Significant Tungsten Supply Project
Sangdong is being developed as a major tungsten operation in South Korea, with the project providing a source of the critical mineral outside China.
Tungsten is used across a range of industrial applications, including manufacturing, engineering and defence. Almonty says the timing of Sangdong’s commercial operation comes as tungsten prices remain high and supply chains for the material continue to attract attention.
The company also highlighted changes to US defence procurement rules scheduled to take effect from January 2027, which will place greater emphasis on the origin of materials used in defence supply chains.
From Construction to Production
With the final certification secured, Almonty’s focus now moves towards the continued ramp-up of the Sangdong processing plant and delivery against its existing customer commitments.
The transition from construction and commissioning to commercial production represents an important milestone for the project and establishes Sangdong as an operating tungsten asset capable of supplying both the South Korean market and international customers.
Source: Almonty Industries
Image: Almonty Industries