Premier suspends pilot plant operations at Zulu
London Stock Exchange-listed mining and exploration junior Premier African Minerals has partially suspended pilot plant operations at the Zulu Lithium and Tantalum project to allow preparation for the installation of a 55 tons per hour ball mill.
Rudairo Mapuranga
While mining operations are going to continue the company intends to test for the spodumene concentrates currently on the ground and decision regarding possible reprocessing of the concentrates that carry excessive contamination from country rock.
“Premier confirms that current plant operations have been partially suspended to allow for civil construction to commence in preparation for the installation of the 55 tons per hour ball mill and other associated structures. Those aspects of the plant that will continue to run include the X-ray transmission (“XRT”) and Ultraviolet (“UV”) sorters (collectively the “Ore Sorters”) that have not been fully commissioned and optimised at this time.
“At the same time, the plant will be prepared to recommence production at the original design capacity and compromises needed for the lower tonnages fed to date will be removed. All instrumentation will be inspected and repaired as needed during this temporary shutdown period of the plant.
“Mining operations will continue, intended to enlarge the pit envelope and allow for better selective mining and the avoidance of waste rock contaminating the ore feed to the plant.
“Tests will be conducted, and a decision will be taken regarding possible reprocessing of concentrates produced that carry excessive contamination from country rock and gangue material that should have been eliminated to a far greater extent than has occurred.
“Premier continues to see grades of spodumene produced in its onsite laboratory from Run of Mine (“ROM”) ore when the contaminants not associated with pegmatite material are removed that meet the Offtake and Prepayment Partner requirements. Optimisation of the Ore Sorters and the pit development both noted above, should largely eliminate this problem when plant operations are recommissioned.
“Premier continues to update its Offtake and Prepayment Partner and sincerely appreciates the support it continues to receive,” the Company said.