Premier African Minerals Limited has provided a further operational update on its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Zimbabwe, highlighting continued progress as it moves towards commissioning.
Zulu Lithium: installation and optimisation progressing
Managing director Graham Hill said work on site is advancing well, particularly given the labour-intensive nature of the current fabrication and modification phase.
Installation of the new Xinhai flotation plant is progressing steadily, with recent activity focused on on-site fabrication of key components, including pipework, walkways and flotation infrastructure. The tailings tank has now been installed, marking another milestone in plant development.
Electrical systems are nearing completion, with switchgear set for factory testing ahead of delivery and installation in the coming weeks.
At the same time, the company is refining plant design to improve efficiency and reliability. This includes removing previously installed sorting equipment, which was deemed redundant and cost-inefficient, and modifying conveyors and pipework to simplify operations and reduce maintenance requirements.
Operational readiness builds
Mining activity is set to resume, with the contractor back on site and dewatering underway to enable selective extraction.
Premier is also progressing the build-out of its processing team, while detailed commissioning plans are being finalised. A Xinhai commissioning engineer is expected on site to support final optimisation work.
Water supply remains secure, with the project’s dam at full capacity following seasonal rainfall—supporting both commissioning and future operations.
Zimbabwe policy backdrop
The update comes as Zimbabwe adjusts its lithium export framework. A suspension on lithium concentrate exports introduced earlier in 2026 is expected to transition into a controlled system, with quotas and approvals for compliant producers.
Premier said it welcomes this more pragmatic approach and continues to engage with authorities to ensure alignment with evolving regulatory requirements while advancing Zulu Lithium towards production.
