London Stock Exchange-listed mining and exploration junior, Premier African Minerals, successfully installed conditioning tanks at its Zimbabwean mine on the 12th of July 2024. This key addition to the processing plant is expected to significantly boost the company’s output of spodumene concentrate, a vital component in lithium-ion batteries.
By Patricia Rwafa
A conditioning tank, though adding to the capital cost of the flotation circuit, has the potential to improve circuit control, reduce operating costs, and enhance process performance.
According to CEO George Roach, the conditioning tank, which is the final plant modification, is installed and will be commissioned this week according to the planned timelines.
The installation of the conditioning tank is complete, and commissioning is underway with the expectation that ore feed will commence today.
As per Premier’s announcements on 29 May 2024 and 18 June 2024, Premier confirms that the conditioning tank is now on site and largely installed, with commissioning, as originally expected, to be completed this week.
“While the plant can run continuously and produce spodumene concentrates at up to 50 tons per day during this commissioning phase, ongoing testing demonstrated that achieving recovery and acceptable SC6 grade would require a final modification to the spodumene float circuit. Profitable plant operations require concentration at grade. It was anticipated that the plant could run while the conditioning tank was being installed, but with no further advances in plant performance possible without this addition, it is logical to stop the float circuit now. This will expedite the necessary changes and preserve cash.
The civil construction to support this conditioner is expected to be completed by 10 June 2024, and assembly of the new components to commence soon after 20 June 2024. The target completion date is now 10 July 2024, and all efforts are focused on shortening this period,” stated the 29 May announcement.
Roach stated, “Premier is delighted to confirm further to our announcement earlier this week that this significant modification to the float circuit has been delivered, installed, and is now operational on time. This unit is expected to significantly increase the recovery of spodumene, and Premier anticipates seeing a substantial increase in production of spodumene concentrate from the flotation circuit.”
