Premier African Minerals has registered significant early gains at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project, with flotation test runs delivering a concentrate grade exceeding 5%—a notable benchmark in the lithium production space, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
After the much-anticipated restart of the plant on July 6, 2025, following the installation of critical cleaner cell inserts in the flotation section, Premier has announced that the initial test run has yielded encouraging results, especially in terms of grade performance. However, the journey to optimisation is still underway, as Premier now turns focus toward recovery improvement and establishing a steady-state operation.
In a statement released on Friday, the company confirmed that the Zulu plant, located near Fort Rixon in Matabeleland South, achieved stability toward the end of the initial testing phase—a critical milestone after an extended period of downtime. The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) inserts have demonstrated that they effectively reduce concentrate retention time in the cleaner section—an issue flagged during previous operations.
“During this test run, there were encouraging signs, including an observed improvement in concentrate grade with results exceeding the target grade of 5% in the final cleaner cell prior to being pumped to the filter press (bagging plant),” the company said.
Despite the success in achieving high-grade concentrate, recoveries remain below the desired threshold. Excess lithium oxide (Li₂O) continues to show up in tailings, prompting the company to recirculate the material back into the flotation circuit in hopes of extracting more value.
Premier’s priority, as it stands, is achieving a commercially saleable grade—which appears within reach—before shifting focus to the more technical challenge of recovery rate optimisation.
To that end, Premier announced that the initial test run has temporarily ceased, and full operational control of the plant will be handed over to the OEM starting the week of July 21, 2025. This new phase, dubbed the “OEM Test Run,” is designed to ensure a consistent, steady-state operation that will lay the foundation for enhanced recoveries and overall plant efficiency.
“As much as Premier is pleased with the initial progress to date, we were frustrated with the time needed to get the plant into a constant running state,” said Premier CEO George Roach. “Although, as reminded by our OEM, this is not a simple plant, and maintaining target operating parameters requires time and patience.”
Roach also praised the unwavering support Premier continues to receive from its team on the ground. “We remain deeply appreciative of the ongoing support we have from our contractors, staff, and shareholders. Civil construction for the alternative spodumene float section is now almost complete, which is planned to provide both a fallback option if needed and also the ability to expand Zulu’s existing process capacity of spodumene concentrate.”
This dual-float capability could not only mitigate operational risks but also position Zulu as a scalable lithium supply node at a time when global markets are demanding higher outputs from diversified sources.
The Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project remains a flagship operation within Premier African Minerals’ diversified portfolio, which spans tungsten, lithium, rare earth elements, and gold across Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Zulu site has been central to Premier’s lithium ambitions, and while challenges have plagued the operation—ranging from plant engineering issues to broader market pressures—this latest milestone signals a potential turning point.
The company’s strategy now hinges on the successful completion of the OEM Test Run. A steady-state operation would not only allow consistent concentrate production but also generate critical performance data that will inform further upgrades and downstream planning. If successful, this phase could finally set Zulu on course for sustained commercial production and improved investor confidence.
The broader lithium market, while currently volatile, continues to hold long-term promise with battery technology, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage driving global demand. Premier’s ability to deliver a stable supply of battery-grade lithium from Zimbabwe could boost the country’s growing reputation as an attractive investment destination for energy minerals.
With Zimbabwe opening its doors wider to international capital and modernising its mining legislation, Premier’s progress at Zulu is a litmus test for the country’s readiness to deliver on its much-touted mining potential. The next few weeks at Zulu will be closely watched—not just by investors but also by the Zimbabwean government and global stakeholders in the green energy transition.
