Tungsten miner Premier African Minerals (LON:PREM) expects remedial work on its process plant at the RHA mine in Zimbabwe to meet the agreed deadline.
George Roach, chief executive, said: “I am pleased to confirm that the screens and other plant modifications have now left the factory and are en route to RHA, with a completion date of 6 July in mind.”
Once installation of these new screens is complete and operations recommence, a joint assessment will be conducted with the plant supplier, Appropriate Process Technologies, to ensure it is fit for purpose after which full processing of RHA’s underground ore should start.
While it waits for this, Premier has re-tested the tailings at RHA and also the potential for an open pit alongside the underground operation.
Tailings recoveries are running at 60%, Roach said, which may make some of the shortfall during the plant’s ramp-up phase.
Roach added: “XRT bulk sample results seem to have been worth the wait and, provided there is no deviation from these early findings and the additional necessary studies are concluded successfully, the prospect remains that the open pit will be reopened and mined profitably.”