Zulu Lithium successfully commissioned without Mnangagwa

Premier African Minerals Limited has successfully commissioned the Zulu Lithium Mine in Insiza District, Matabeleland South Province, producing 350 tonnes of spodumene concentrate in recent weeks.

The plant can now run continuously, with additional components set to be installed in mid-June to enhance performance and profitability. This update was provided by the company last Wednesday, indicating that plant optimization is ongoing.

"Zulu has now commissioned the plant, which can run continuously. Optimization of plant performance is ongoing, and the installation of an additional conditioning cell is on target for early July completion," the company stated.

"While the plant can produce up to 50 tonnes of spodumene concentrates per day during this commissioning phase, ongoing testing has shown that achieving recovery and an acceptable SC6 grade requires a final modification to the spodumene float circuit. Profitable operations depend on achieving the required concentrate grade."

The company initially anticipated running the plant while installing the additional conditioning tank. However, it became clear that further performance improvements would not be possible without this addition, prompting a decision to halt the float circuit to expedite modifications and conserve cash.

Premier African Minerals' CEO, Mr. George Roach, expressed his frustration but emphasized the project's strong fundamentals. "The overall component cost for this change is minor in the context of the plant, the resource, the overall operation, and the company's future," he said.