Premier African Minerals reports progress at Zulu Project

17th Apr 2026 12:22

(Sharecast News) - Premier African Minerals reported continued progress at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Zimbabwe on Friday, as installation and optimisation work on the new flotation plant advances ahead of commissioning.

The AIM-traded company said fabrication and integration of the Xinhai Flotation Plant was progressing well, with recent work focused on labour-intensive on-site construction, including overflow launders, walkways, interconnecting pipework and air supply systems.

It said the tailings tank had now been installed, while electrical switchgear was nearing completion and was due to undergo factory testing before delivery and installation in the coming weeks.

Premier added that it was refining the plant configuration to improve efficiency and reliability, including the removal of previously installed sorting equipment deemed redundant due to its impact on operating costs.

Additional modifications were being made to bypass certain pipework, sumps and pumps that have historically presented operational challenges.

Mining activities were also set to resume, with the contractor returning to site and beginning dewatering of the pits to enable a selective mining programme.

The firm said it was continuing to build out its processing operations team and is preparing for the arrival of a commissioning engineer from Xinhai to support final stages of plant commissioning and optimisation.

Water supply remained secure, with the project's dam at full capacity following favourable rainfall, supporting upcoming commissioning and ongoing operations.

"We are very pleased with the progress being made on site, particularly given the labour-intensive nature of the fabrication and modification work currently underway," said managing director Graham Hill.

"The team has responded well to the technical requirements of the Xinhai Flotation Plant design, and the level of on-site execution has been encouraging.

"Importantly, we are not only advancing installation but also refining and simplifying the plant configuration to support more reliable and efficient operations going forward.

"This work is critical in positioning Zulu Lithium for sustainable performance once commissioning is complete."

Separately, the company noted recent regulatory changes in Zimbabwe, where authorities suspended exports of lithium concentrates in February to promote in-country beneficiation.

Premier said subsequent clarification suggested exports were expected to resume under a controlled framework, with quotas and approvals for compliant producers, and that it was continuing to engage with regulators while aligning operations with the evolving policy environment.

At 1202 BST, shares in Premier African Minerals were up 11.6% at 0.02p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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