Premier African Minerals Limited says its new spodumene flotation plant for the Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project is expected to arrive on site this week, positioning the company to advance production plans despite Zimbabwe’s recent suspension of lithium concentrate exports.

In a corporate update released Monday, the AIM-listed miner confirmed that the new 15–20 tonnes-per-hour flotation circuit is expected to be delivered to the Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project on March 3, 2026.

Managing Director Graham Hill described the development as a key milestone following earlier delays.

“I am extremely pleased to report that following a short delay from the timetable previously announced and after several weeks of planning and mobilisation we now expect the new spodumene flotation plant to arrive on site on Tuesday, 3 March,” Hill said.

He added that a specialist installation engineer from Xinhai Technology Processing is expected on site, with commissioning and optimisation scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.

“The Zulu team stands ready to begin assembly of the plant, as soon as it arrives, on the foundations already constructed,” Hill said.

The flotation circuit will replace the previous spodumene flotation plant and is central to Premier’s strategy to stabilise and scale lithium production at Zulu.

Export Ban and Policy Alignment

The update comes as Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has suspended exports of lithium concentrates and raw minerals with immediate effect, a move aimed at accelerating in-country beneficiation.

Premier said it remains in active discussions with the Ministry and does not foresee material disruption to its future production strategy.

“In response to certain recent announcements by the Ministry regarding the suspension of lithium concentrate and raw mineral exports with immediate effect, we are maintaining dialogue with the Ministry and remain aligned with Zimbabwe's beneficiation objectives,” Hill said.

He added that the company had previously presented its value addition roadmap to authorities.

The Board said it does not currently envisage that the suspension will impede Zulu’s future commercial production, noting that its understanding is that the ban is “targeted at specific issues.”

Premier confirmed that it formally engaged the Ministry in 2024, outlining its beneficiation and optimisation plans designed to enhance value addition within Zimbabwe.

“The Company will continue to engage with the Ministry to ensure alignment between Zulu's operational roadmap and Zimbabwe's evolving beneficiation policy framework,” the statement read.

Strategic Positioning

The delivery and installation of the flotation plant are viewed as critical to Premier’s long-term viability at Zulu, particularly in light of regulatory tightening around raw mineral exports.

Commissioning remains targeted for Q2 2026, with additional materials for access walkways and electrical works being procured separately as part of the installation process.

Premier African Minerals is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market under ticker PREM and operates multiple mineral assets in Zimbabwe, including the RHA Tungsten Project.

With lithium prices showing signs of recovery in global markets, successful commissioning of the flotation circuit could significantly strengthen the company’s production profile at a time when Zimbabwe is pushing for greater beneficiation across its mining sector.