London Stock Exchange–listed mining and exploration company Premier African Minerals Limited has released an update on the ongoing technical audit of the Zulu Lithium Project, confirming that interim results from the independent engineering review support the company’s decision to proceed with the acquisition and installation of a new 15–20 tonnes-per-hour Xinhai flotation plant, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The interim Audit Report, delivered by a third-party engineering team, examined the entire Zulu Lithium processing plant, assessing both the existing flotation circuit and components that may be incorporated into the revised configuration. According to Premier, the preliminary findings are now being jointly reviewed by the company and the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the current flotation plant.
Once the OEM completes its analysis and both parties agree on the key conclusions, Premier says it will issue a further detailed update.
While still under review, the Audit Report in its current form reinforces the board’s earlier decision, announced on 30 October 2025, to move ahead with the immediate acquisition, installation, and commissioning of the Xinhai Technology Processing EPC flotation plant.
The company said the new plant offers the strongest pathway toward achieving consistent commercial-grade lithium concentrate at stable recoveries—something that the existing plant has struggled to deliver since initial commissioning.
Premier is also awaiting the OEM’s final position on whether the current flotation plant can be reconfigured to operate as a supplementary circuit alongside the Xinhai plant.
The company confirmed it is engaged in ongoing discussions with several potential lenders and alternative offtake funders regarding possible financing solutions tied to the prepayment amount, including interest, owed under the Canmax Offtake Agreement.
However, Premier cautioned that progress on any refinancing or restructuring arrangement remains contingent on Zulu demonstrating continuous and consistent production at the required grade and tonnage levels.
“There can be no guarantee that these discussions will result in a successful outcome,” the company said, adding that any eventual agreement would need to be secured on terms acceptable to both Premier and its financiers.
Managing Director Graham Hill said the interim audit findings include “practical suggestions” for improving the stability and performance of the existing plant, particularly regarding its flotation configuration.
Hill noted that the auditors concluded that the overall process design is appropriate and that Zulu’s ore is “definitely amenable” to the selected processing route.
“The Audit Report will be extremely valuable in helping us ensure that the current flotation plant can ultimately serve as a supplement to the Xinhai Flotation Plant,” he added. “However, our immediate priority is the Xinhai Flotation Plant, as it offers the strongest assurance of achieving the earliest possible commercial production.”
The Zulu Lithium Project, located near Fort Rixon in Zimbabwe, has long been positioned as Premier’s flagship asset. However, repeated delays in achieving stable production have led to increasing scrutiny from investors and a restructuring of the company’s approach under new operational leadership.
The installation of the Xinhai flotation plant marks Premier’s most decisive step yet toward overcoming these long-standing technical bottlenecks and bringing Zulu into full-scale commercial output.
