13 September
2024
Premier African Minerals
Limited
Zulu and Corporate
Update
Premier African Minerals Limited
("Premier" or the
"Company") is pleased to
provide a further update on the operations at the Zulu Lithium and
Tantalum Project ("Zulu").
Zulu Operational Update
Pursuant to the RNS on 1 August 2024,
Enprotec, the supplier of the flotation plant, has informed the
Company that, in their opinion, no additional fundamental changes
to the currently installed plant equipment are necessary to achieve
the intended recoveries and grade. Enprotec has been conducting a
series of laboratory tests to better understand the core processes
of the plant, including reagent dosing amounts and points,
agitation speeds, flow rates between components, slurry densities,
cell residence times, and alternative water sources introduced into
the flotation section. These tests are crucial for further
optimising the flotation circuit.
Enprotec has notified Premier that
they anticipate completing all laboratory test work by the end of
this week, at which point the lead time for restarting operations
will be determined.
At the same time, the Company has
also been conducting a further financial review of the potential
operating costs at Zulu with consideration of the impact of an
enlarged float plant in due course to accommodate the surplus
capacity on the front end of the plant. Internal Company estimates,
which have not been independently verified, indicate that an
enlarged float plant could result in a target mine
gate production cost for spodumene concentrate of circa US$500 per
ton.
George Roach, CEO, commented," Premier remains appreciative of the efforts and input from
Enprotec and look forward to updating shareholders on the results
of their test work. Premier is heartened with the outcome of the
internal financial review and hasten to add that this still does
not make any allowance for any potential revenue derived from
Tantalum recovery or any other industrial mineral from the Zulu
pegmatite.
Premier will run the plant when the
laboratory work has been completed and when we have resolved the
optimisation issues that have prevented proper production to date.
Whilst this has reduced current expenditure, the Company will still
need further funding and in particular to recommence production
later this month."
ENPROTEC
Enprotec have reviewed and approved
this release to the extent that reference is made to the flotation
plant. Enprotec is a Multi-disciplinary Engineering Applications
Group that Offers End-to-end Solutions to the Mining & Mineral
Processing Industry. Enprotec aim to extract ore optimally and
derive tangible value for its clients from their operations while
eliminating environmental risks. Enprotec is a global partner in
the mineral processing industry, offering a diverse range of
solutions and technologies.
Enprotec involvement in
Zulu was originally under the engagement and direction of Stark.
Following Zulu's engineering team taking
over as the operator of the Zulu plant, Enprotec have agreed to
provide such support as requested by Zulu as may be required in the
continuing optimisation, remedy and improvement of the Stark
designed flotation plant.
Market Abuse Regulations
The information contained within
this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside
information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU)
No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").
The person who arranged the release
of this announcement on behalf of the Company was George
Roach.
A copy of this announcement is
available at the Company's website, www.premierafricanminerals.com
Enquiries:
George Roach
|
Premier African Minerals Limited
|
Tel: +27 (0) 100 201 281
|
Michael Cornish / Roland Cornish
|
Beaumont Cornish Limited
(Nominated Adviser)
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7628 3396
|
Douglas Crippen
|
CMC
Markets UK Plc
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3003 8632
|
Toby Gibbs/Rachel Goldstein
|
Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7408 4090
|
Nominated Adviser Statement
Beaumont Cornish Limited
("Beaumont Cornish"), which
is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial
Conduct Authority, is acting as nominated adviser to the Company in
connection with this announcement and will not regard any other
person as its client and will not be responsible to anyone else for
providing the protections afforded to the clients of Beaumont
Cornish or for providing advice in relation to such proposals.
Beaumont Cornish has not authorised the contents of, or any part
of, this document and no liability whatsoever is accepted by
Beaumont Cornish for the accuracy of any information, or opinions
contained in this document or for the omission of any information.
Beaumont Cornish as nominated adviser to the Company owes certain
responsibilities to the London Stock Exchange which are not owed to
the Company, the Directors, Shareholders, or any other
person.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this
announcement are or may be deemed to be forward looking statements.
Forward looking statements are identified by their use of terms and
phrases such as ''believe'' ''could'' "should" ''envisage''
''estimate'' ''intend'' ''may'' ''plan'' ''will'' or the negative
of those variations or comparable expressions including references
to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on
historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations
and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth results of
operations performance future capital and other expenditures
(including the amount. Nature and sources of funding thereof)
competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such
forward looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs
and assumptions and are based on information currently available to
the Directors. A number of factors could cause actual results to
differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking
statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general
economic and business conditions competition environmental and
other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the
availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured
and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond
the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements
contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors
believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure
investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward
looking statements.
Glossary
|
"Stark"
|
The Zulu design, procurement, installation, and commissioning
contractor, Stark International Projects Limited.
|
Notes to
Editors:
Premier African Minerals Limited (AIM: PREM) is
a multi-commodity mining and natural resource development company
focused on Southern Africa with its RHA Tungsten and Zulu Lithium
projects in Zimbabwe.
The Company has a diverse portfolio of
projects, which include tungsten, rare earth elements, lithium and
tantalum in Zimbabwe and lithium and gold in Mozambique,
encompassing brownfield projects with near-term production
potential to grass-roots exploration. The Company has accepted a
share offer by Vortex Limited ("Vortex") for the exchange of Premier's
entire 4.8% interest in Circum Minerals Limited ("Circum"), the owners of the Danakil
Potash Project in Ethiopia, for a 13.1% interest in the enlarged
share capital of Vortex. Vortex has an interest of 36.7% in
Circum.
Ends