Shares in Premier African Minerals Ltd (AIM:PREM, OTC:PRMMF) rose 17% to 0.021p after the company reported encouraging progress on the installation of a new flotation plant at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Zimbabwe.
Work on the Xinhai Flotation Plant, supplied by Chinese processing equipment specialist Xinhai Technology Processing, has centred on site-based fabrication of overflow launders, walkways, interconnecting pipework between flotation cells, and large-diameter air supply piping.
The tailings tank has been installed, while electrical switchgear is nearing completion and is scheduled for factory testing this week, with delivery to the site and installation of electrical works expected to follow over the coming weeks.
A commissioning engineer from Xinhai is expected on site to support the final stages of plant start-up and optimisation.
The company is also simplifying the plant configuration, removing sorting equipment deemed redundant following an operational review, and bypassing certain pipework, sumps and pumps that have historically caused reliability problems.
The mining contractor has returned to the site and commenced dewatering of the pits ahead of a selective mining programme.
On the regulatory front, Premier noted that Zimbabwe suspended exports of lithium concentrates in February 2026 to encourage in-country processing, but said subsequent engagement with authorities indicated exports are expected to resume under a controlled framework, with quotas granted to qualifying producers.
Managing Director Graham Hill said the team had responded well to the technical demands of the Xinhai plant design and that the company was building momentum across both installation and operational readiness.