Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
Zimpapers Business Hub
Premier African Minerals has announced a breakthrough at its Zulu lithium project in Fort Rixon, in Matabeleland South Province, with the plant now transitioning from commissioning to a refining and optimisation phase, marking a significant step forward in Zimbabwe’s growing lithium production sector.
Lithium refining and optimisation focus on maximising lithium recovery from various sources (brines, hard rock) while minimising environmental impact and cost. This involves various stages like extraction, purification, and conversion to usable compounds.
The Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project, developed by Premier African Minerals, has faced significant operational and financial challenges but has recently seen some positive developments.
While the project experienced production delays due to technical issues at the lithium processing plant and struggled to meet delivery deadlines with its offtake partner, Canmax Technologies, Premier has secured new funding and is undertaking upgrades to the plant.
In the latest update, the company revealed that a large international trading house, which recently conducted a second site visit, confirmed that its key requirement, the production of saleable spodumene concentrate, had been met.
Saleable concentrate requires a spodumene concentrate with a minimum grade of five percent lithium oxide (Li₂O).
Spodumene concentrate is a key lithium-bearing mineral used in the production of batteries.
Premier said the Zulu plant has already achieved this benchmark on several occasions, with grades peaking at 6,2 percent Li₂O, and optimisation work is expected to ensure consistent production at these levels.
In its latest update, Premier confirmed the successful completion of the second phase of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) plant test run, which demonstrated that the plant can now operate continuously, with all components fully commissioned, integrated, and automated.
Both the OEM and the Zulu team expressed satisfaction with the progress.
“While the operations of the Primary Flotation Plant will involve ongoing optimisation as would normally be expected with any producing plant, we are now reassured that the process has moved from a commissioning phase to that of a refining and optimising phase as we now look forward to the growth and operational chapter of Zulu,” the company said.
Premier also indicated that following a review of test results and changes in operating parameters, the board has decided to postpone the purchase of a secondary flotation plant, allowing the newly appointed managing director time to reassess the strategy.
Online Reporter