Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
Premier African Resources says it has completed several critical tests at its Zulu lithium project in Fort Rixon, Matabeleland South Province, marking a key milestone towards commercial production.
This comes as Zimbabwe continues to position itself as a key player in the global battery minerals value chain.
The company said what remains is the hot commissioning of the new spodumene flotation plant and the production of saleable concentrate, with progress to date remaining firmly on schedule for completion in the second quarter of 2026.
Zimbabwe has emerged as one of Africa’s most strategic lithium destinations, with growing global demand for the mineral driven by the accelerating transition to clean energy, electric vehicles and battery storage technologies.
Lithium is a critical component in rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, mobile devices and renewable energy storage systems, making it one of the world’s most sought-after minerals as economies shift towards decarbonisation and green industrialisation.
The country has, in recent years, attracted substantial investment into lithium exploration, mining and processing as the Government pushes for value addition and beneficiation under its broader industrialisation agenda.
The progress at Zulu Lithium comes at a time when Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to leverage its vast mineral resources to drive economic growth, export earnings, job creation and foreign currency generation.
As one of the country’s largest developing hard-rock lithium resources, the project will directly support the Government’s push to capitalise on the global transition to clean energy and electric vehicles (EVs).
In an operational update, the company said commissioning activities were progressing steadily and in line with expectations.
Premier African Mineral managing director Mr Graham Hill said the company was maintaining a disciplined and methodical approach to the commissioning process to ensure operational readiness ahead of full production.
