Premier African Minerals has achieved a significant milestone at its Zulu lithium plant in Zimbabwe, according to a company update reported by The Chronicle. The company announced the successful production of saleable spodumene concentrate from the plant’s floatation circuit, with a consistent improvement in concentrate grade.
Spodumene is a lithium ore, a key component in electric vehicle batteries due to its high lithium concentration. Premier African Minerals is targeting initial production of 50 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per day, with an expectation to increase production in the future. The company’s long-term goal is to achieve full design capacity of 4,000 tonnes per month.
Currently, the company is optimizing the Zulu floatation circuit to ensure continuous operation and improve both the concentrate grade and production tonnage. Internal laboratory tests using an activator have shown recoveries nearing 90 percent, suggesting a higher lithium content in the ore body than initially estimated.
Premier African Minerals is working with ENPROTEC, a global leader in mineral processing, to enhance the Zulu plant’s performance. The collaboration aims to produce high-grade, saleable SC6 concentrate at the designed throughput.
“Thanks to the support the Company receives from ENPROTEC and innovation and dedication from our team at Zulu, we are now able to run the floatation circuit continuously and produce saleable spodumene concentrate,” said Mr. George Roach, CEO of Premier African Minerals.
While the floatation circuit is functioning well, some rectification of the original plant design is still needed. ENPROTEC is actively involved in addressing these design constraints, which are crucial to achieving long-term operational success .
Premier African Minerals is encouraged by the positive developments, including improved spodumene concentrate grades. Recent analysis indicates lithium concentrations between 4.5 and 6.3 percent Li2O in the produced concentrate.
The company is planning to engage an independent consultant to evaluate the cost implications of the current mining operation, considering the potential cost benefits of using ore located within the company’s Exclusive Prospecting Order (EPO).