By Ryan Chigoche
Premier African Minerals Limited has announced the commencement of civil works for an additional flotation plant at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project, following the completion of interim funding secured on April 25, 2025.
The company has also confirmed orders for inserts to upgrade its existing cleaner cells, marking a significant step toward resuming full operations at its flagship Zimbabwean lithium site.
Work at the Zulu site, located approximately 80 kilometers northeast of Bulawayo, is set to begin in the coming week. Premier expects delivery and commissioning of the flotation cell inserts by June 2025, with final installation of the new spodumene circuit projected for the third quarter of the year.
George Roach, CEO of Premier African Minerals, expressed optimism about the project’s progress, stating:
“It is indeed most pleasing to commence civils and confirm the float plant order to be able to get Zulu back to work.”
The Zulu Lithium Project is considered one of Zimbabwe’s most promising hard-rock lithium resources, with the potential to produce nearly 50,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate annually.
However, the project has not been without challenges. In 2023, Premier completed construction of a lithium processing plant at Zulu as part of a US$35 million offtake deal with China’s Canmax Technologies. Despite initial success, technical issues with the concentrator plant led to production delays, putting strain on the offtake agreement.
To resolve its financial obligations—including the outstanding US$35 million owed to Canmax—Premier is now in talks with Glencore Plc. The company recently signed a non-binding letter of interest with the global commodities trader, aiming to reach a binding agreement for lithium concentrate supply within three months.
In addition to restructuring its offtake commitments, Premier has raised new capital to stabilize operations. The company secured £4.7 million in a share placement and launched a further offering to raise £2.3 million. These funds are being channeled directly into the ongoing upgrades at Zulu.
As civil works begin and the installation of the new flotation infrastructure moves forward, Premier is banking on these improvements to restore investor confidence and meet growing demand in the global lithium market.
