{"id":136609,"title":"Premier African Produces First Spodumene Concentrate at Zulu Lithium Project","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-06-10T09:35:05+00:00","modified":"2026-06-10T09:35:05+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/premier-african-produces-first-spodumene-concentrate-at-zulu-lithium-project/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/premier-african-produces-first-spodumene-concentrate-at-zulu-lithium-project.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/premier-african-produces-first-spodumene-concentrate-at-zulu-lithium-project.json","category":"Mining","categories":["Mining"],"tags":["George Roach","Graham Hill","Mineral Resource","Mr Pei Zenzhue","operations","Pilot","Plant","PREM","Premier African Min","Share Talk","Suzhou TA&A","Tantalum Project","Zulu Lithium"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FsiTD1eWIAEwCG7-scaled-1.webp?fit=1200%2C650&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"[Premier African Minerals Limited (AIM: PREM)](https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/premier-african-minerals-ltd--prem/operational-update-/9611298)has reported a key operational milestone at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Zimbabwe, confirming the production of its first spodumene-bearing concentrate from the newly commissioned flotation plant.\n\nPreliminary analysis conducted by the company’s internal laboratory has confirmed the presence of spodumene within the concentrate produced to date. While current concentrate grades remain below targeted specifications, management reported a steady improvement in product quality as commissioning and optimisation activities continue.\n\nThe company noted that lower grades are typical during the early stages of flotation plant commissioning, as operating parameters, reagent additions and circuit performance are progressively refined and stabilised.\n\nPremier said it remains too early to provide guidance on final concentrate grades, recovery rates, throughput levels or overall plant performance, with optimisation work still ongoing. However, management indicated that initial operating results have been encouraging.\n\nCurrent efforts are focused on fine-tuning flotation conditions, reagent dosing and plant stability to maximise both lithium recovery and concentrate quality.\n\nManaging Director Graham Hill described the production of first spodumene concentrate as a significant operational achievement and an important validation of the modified processing plant and new flotation circuit.\n\nHe added that early operating data suggests the plant is demonstrating improved stability compared with previous operations, which management believes is a result of process simplification and modifications implemented throughout the processing facility.\n\nThe successful production of spodumene concentrate represents another step forward in the development of the Zulu Project and provides early evidence that the redesigned processing circuit is functioning as intended.\n\nInvestors will now be looking for future updates on concentrate grades, recovery rates and commercial production performance as the optimisation programme progresses and additional operating data becomes available."}