Aim-listed Firering Strategic Minerals has completed the hot commissioning of Kiln 2 at its producing lime asset in Zambia, Limeco Resources, which is now entering the optimisation phase.

As with the first kiln, the company says production from Kiln 2 is expected to ramp up over an optimisation period of about three months, during which operating parameters will be progressively refined to achieve consistent output with consistent quality and reliability.

The company says this optimisation phase is standard practice in the industry.

“Hot commissioning of Kiln 2 is a further delivery milestone for Limeco and demonstrates the operational discipline now in place across the site.

“Applying the learnings from Kiln 1 enables us to have a more predictable, repeatable ramp-up as we scale to a multi-kiln operation. Notably, each additional kiln brought into stable production, materially strengthens the business and expands its strategic optionality,” says Firering chairperson and interim CEO Youval Rasin.

Firering notes that Kiln 2 incorporates the operational learnings from the ramp-up of Kiln 1, with targeted improvements to the burner system, airflow management, heat distribution and monitoring protocols, supporting a faster and more predictable path to steady-state production.

The company adds that the additional kiln brought into stable operation materially strengthens operating leverage, cash generation potential and the overall resilience of the project.

In this context, Firering says the successful hot commissioning of Kiln 2 represents a further step in strengthening the company’s strategic and financing optionality as production capacity continues to increase.

Meanwhile, the company notes that commercial momentum continues to build, with growing interest in Limeco’s product range and encouraging developments across local and regional markets.

Following a stringent validation process involving laboratory testing, bulk sampling, site inspections and trial orders, Firering says Limeco secured a 600 t order from a major international mining group operating in Zambia.

This order is currently being fulfilled, alongside a similar-sized order for material destined for clients in Zimbabwe.

Firering says engagements with additional prospective customers are ongoing, adding that Limeco is now well positioned to compete in tenders for longer-term supply contracts.

Moreover, in line with the Limeco option agreement, Firering has completed the exercise of the third tranche of the option to acquire a further 5.5% interest in Limeco, taking its shareholding in Limeco to 36.2%.