Premier African Minerals achieves key milestone with Zulu lithium flotation plant in Zimbabwe
London-listed Premier African Minerals has successfully completed the second-phase test run of the primary flotation plant at its Zulu lithium and tantalum project in Zimbabwe.
The company confirmed that the plant is now fully commissioned, automated, and capable of running continuously as intended.
This marks a critical step in Premier’s plan to achieve and maintain the production of saleable lithium concentrate.
Premier’s initial focus has been to reach commercially saleable grades before optimising for recovery rates.
Spodumene concentrate requires a minimum of 5% lithium oxide content to be considered saleable. Encouragingly, the plant has already achieved grades of up to 6.2% Li₂O during test runs, and with further optimisation, Premier expects to achieve these grades consistently.
The company has decided to defer the purchase of a secondary flotation plant, allowing new Managing Director Graham Hill more time to evaluate its potential benefits.
Meanwhile, Premier is in advanced discussions to secure an offtake agreement with a major international trading house, underpinned by the successful production of saleable spodumene concentrate.
CEO George Roach highlighted the company’s progress and strategic direction:
“We are pleased with the advancements at Zulu and remain focused on transforming the project into a diversified industrial minerals producer.
The recent rise in spodumene pricing is encouraging, with the potential to transition Zulu toward sustained profitability.
Achieving full optimisation and addressing outstanding debt will require additional funding and disciplined strategic management.”
Roach added that negotiations related to a letter of intent—seen as pivotal to the project’s next stage—are expected to begin in the near term.
About the Author
