Aim-listed Premier African Minerals has reported that, following a short delayin the timetable previously announced and after several weeks of planning and mobilisation, it now expects the new 15 t to 20 t an hour spodumene flotation plant for its Zulu lithium and tantalum project, in Zimbabwe, to arrive on site on March 3.

The company reports that an installation engineer from Xinhai Technology Processing is scheduled to arrive at Zulu on March 2. Premier says the company will confirm when the plant has arrived and notwithstanding that will update shareholders at the AGM on March 4.

This spodumene flotation circuit will replace the previous spodumene flotation circuit with the balance of the processing plant, ahead of the spodumene flotation circuit being retained.

The company says additional materials for construction of access walkways and electrical cables is being separately bought by Zulu as part of the plan and will be delivered during the course of the assembly of the new plant.

The company says it continues to target commissioning of the new flotation circuit during the second quarter of this year.

“The Zulu team stands ready to begin assembly of the plant, as soon as it arrives, on the foundations already constructed with commissioning and optimisation alongside other specialists from the manufacturer scheduled for the second quarter of this year,” says Premier MD Graham Hill.

Meanwhile, Premier says it notes the recent announcement by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development regarding the suspension of lithium concentrate and raw mineral exports with immediate effect.

The company, in a statement to shareholders, says it confirms that it is fully aware of the recent regulatory development and remains in open dialogue with the Ministry in respect of the suspension and the framework for future product shipments from Zulu following commissioning of the flotation plant.

The company further confirms that, during 2024, it formally engaged with the Ministry and presented its proposed beneficiation and value addition strategy for Zulu.

The company explains that the engagement included outlining the company's longer-term processing and optimisation plans designed to enhance in-country value addition and the company will continue to engage with the Ministry to ensure alignment between Zulu's operational roadmap and Zimbabwe's evolving beneficiation policy framework.

Premier says the board does not currently envisage, on the basis of their understanding that the ban is targeted at specific issues, that the recent suspension will impede Zulu's future commercial production strategy as the company progresses installation and commissioning of the flotation plant.

However, it will give an update on this matter as and when the situation is clarified.

“This suspension is understood to target specific issues, and we do not consider that it will create and problems for future production from Zulu,” says Hill.