Premier African Minerals Limited, provides a further update on both the progress at the Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project (“Zulu”) and the Offtake and Prepayment Agreement (“Agreement”) entered into between Premier and Canmax Technologies Co., Ltd (“Canmax”) as announced on 6 June 2023.
Offtake and Prepayment Agreement
On 28 June 2023, the Company received a purported notice of termination of the Agreement from Canmax (following service of a Force Majeure Notice on Canmax on the 25 June 2023) which demanded the Company settle the prepayment amount of US$34.7m within 90 days. The Company has disputed the appropriateness of the notice of termination based on legal advice.
Subsequently, the Company has received, and acknowledged, a further written notice from Canmax on 17 July 2023 that there is a dispute under the Agreement and notes that both parties are now required to seek to resolve the dispute in good faith by “friendly negotiation”. To the extent that the parties are unable to resolve the dispute in 10 days, then either party may then refer the dispute to arbitration in Singapore. These discussions remain ongoing and nothing has been agreed at this time.
Zulu plant modification update
In regard to plant modification progress at Zulu, the past three weeks have now seen the installation of the UV sorters, a new frame to the EDS mill and the Hydro Sizer (collectively the “Upgrades”). The commissioning of the Upgrades remains ongoing with the UV Sorters expected to increase feed grade with resultant efficiency enhancements to recovery and production; furthermore, the Hydro Sizer is expected to improve efficiency in recovery of correctly sized milled ore.
Whilst the above Upgrades may improve throughput of the plant at Zulu, it is unlikely to resolve the formal state of Force Majeure as announced on the 26 June 2023, that is still expected to endure for approximately 14 weeks.
The Zulu design, procurement, installation, and commissioning contractor, Stark International Projects Limited (“Stark”), have confirmed that they intend to produce spodumene from the plant at Zulu over the course of July 2023. At this stage and unless Premier is advised otherwise by Stark, the Stark production projections included in the announcement dated 25 May 2023 remain achievable apart from the month of June 2023 as advised on 26 June 2023.
Shareholders are reminded that Premier is working under the guidance of Stark on the ongoing optimisation and modification of the plant and that Premier will formally communicate when sign -off of the plant including operational control of the plant has moved onto Premier.
Funding update and Special General Meeting
Based on current Spodumene prices and costs estimates there has been no change to the Board’s expectation that Zulu, when fully operational, will operate profitably. Zulu is and remains debt free and currently unencumbered by the provisions of the Agreement.
In particular, whilst the Company is actively involved in alternative funding negotiations to facilitate ongoing development at Zulu and the substitution of the Agreement with Canmax who have made it clear that they seek repayment and cancellation following the remedy of the Force Majeure, there is no certainty at this time that these alternative funding arrangements will be concluded.
Premiers’ cash reserves remain constrained, and this has been exacerbated following rejection of the special resolution proposed to shareholders at the Company’s Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) to disapply pre-emption rights, as announced on 26 June 2023. The Board noted the limited number of proxy votes cast at the AGM, and in particular, the Board believes that substantially more shareholders would have voted at the AGM in light of recent developments. Accordingly, the Board intends to call a special general meeting to be held on or around the 12 August 2023 in London where shareholders are strongly encouraged to vote in either person or through the proxy of the Chairman of the meeting. A further announcement will be made in due course.
The Company is also exploring potential options to secure interim short-term funding from certain members of the Board.
