Zulu Project Update
Premier African Minerals Limited provided an update on the Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project (“Zulu”), following our announcements on 8 May 2024 and 21 May 2024.
|
· |
Zulu has now commissioned the plant and the plant is able to run continuously. |
|
· |
Optimising the plant performance is ongoing. |
|
· |
Installation of additional conditioning cell on target for early July completion. |
Although the plant can continuously produce spodumene concentrates at up to 50 tons per day during this commissioning phase, ongoing testing has shown that achieving recovery and acceptable SC6 grade requires a final modification to the spodumene float circuit. Profitable operations depend on concentration at grade.
Initially, it was anticipated that the plant could operate while the additional conditioning tank was being installed. However, with no further improvements in plant performance possible without this addition, it is logical to stop the float circuit now to expedite the changes and preserve cash.
The civil construction for this conditioner is expected to be completed by 10 June 2024, with the assembly of the new components commencing shortly after 20 June 2024. The target completion date is now 10 July 2024, with efforts focused on shortening this period.
George Roach, CEO commented, “The overall component cost for this change is minor and modest in the context of the plant, the resource, the overall operation and the future of Zulu.
I am as deeply frustrated and disappointed as any shareholder would be but the underlying fundamentals of Zulu are compelling.”
Shipment
Approximately 350 tons of spodumene concentrate produced over the past weeks has averaged over 4% Li2O and is saleable. Each bag must be sampled and tested, a composite sample of all bags prepared, and samples independently assayed. This is the first shipment of product from Zulu, and the process is being carefully monitored by both the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe and the independent inspectorate
