Premier African Minerals has reported significant progress at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project. The new Xinhai flotation plant is now fully installed, and commissioning activities are advancing toward a targeted start in the second quarter of 2026, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
In an operational update released on Wednesday, the company confirmed that the new flotation cells have been aligned, levelled, and connected under the supervision of the manufacturer’s installation engineer. Launder installation is underway, structural steelwork for walkways is progressing, and the piping crew has mobilised to begin integrating the new circuit with existing infrastructure.
Product and tailings pumps have been installed on plinths, while the motor control switchgear is being assembled off-site. It is expected to arrive within the next two weeks following factory acceptance testing.
Graham Hill, Managing Director, said the level of coordination between the on-site team and the manufacturer’s engineer gave the board confidence as the project moves toward commissioning.
“We are very encouraged by the continued progress being made on-site at Zulu Lithium. The installation of the Xinhai flotation plant is advancing well and, importantly, in line with our planned timeline,” Hill said.
He added that operational readiness is increasing, with the process engineering team mobilising and approximately 5,000 tonnes of ore available on the run-of-mine stockpile for early commissioning. That material, which has already been mined, will be used at no additional mining cost to the company.
Discussions are ongoing with a mining contractor to support ore supply continuity beyond the initial commissioning phase.
Premier reiterated that commissioning and optimisation remain on track for Q2 2026, with the goal of achieving steady-state production of on-spec spodumene concentrate.
