Premier African Minerals i52 Summer

EXECUTIVE INSIGHT

MiningUntapped Potential

Premier African Minerals has a long history of project discovery, acquisition and development across Africa.

MiningUntapped Potential

Premier African Minerals has a long history of project discovery, acquisition and development across Africa. The company is managed by a dedicated team of professionals who have a strong track record in project development and execution, with a focus on value creation.

Optical Mediawork Logistics

Congratulations to George Roach & Premier Mining, on the Successful Opening of Zulu Lithium Mine, in Zimbabwe. This is a remarkable achievement that showcases the Premier Mining Group’s vision, innovation and leadership in the mining and renewable energy sector.

Zulu Lithium Mine is one of the largest and most advanced lithium projects in Africa, with an estimated resource of 20.1 million tonnes of lithium ore. The new mine will produce high-quality lithium carbonate and hydroxide for the global market, meeting the growing demand for batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones and other devices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact.

As one of the logistics partners of this new venture, Optical Mediaworx is honoured and proud to be part of this historic project. We have been providing Zulu Lithium Mine with cutting-edge solutions for transportation, warehousing and distribution of their products, ensuring efficiency, safety and quality at every stage. With a fleet of side Tipper Trucks, Flat Decks, and Taut -

liners, we have been able to meet the versatile needs of the Mining Sector in SADC Region, where we operate. Optical Mediaworx Logistics is committed to supporting Zulu Lithium Mine in their mission to become a world-class producer of lithium and a leader in the green economy.

Once more, we would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Zulu Lithium Mine for choosing Optical Mediaworx Logistics, as one of their logistics partners and for trusting us with this important responsibility. We also commend the management and staff of Zulu Lithium Mine for their hard work, dedication and expertise that made this project possible. You have made a lasting contribution to the development of Zimbabwe and the world.

Optical Mediaworx Logistics wishes Zulu Lithium Mine all the best in their future endeavours and hope to continue our fruitful collaboration for many years to come.

Congratulations once again on this milestone and keep up the good work!

One of these professionals is George Roach, the company CEO, who has been involved in various

aspects of mineral exploration and development for most of his life. With his extensive experience in the natural resources sector in Africa, he has success-

fully obtained licences and concluded mineral exploration and exploitation agreements across the entire SADC region, Ethiopia and most of the CEMAC

and ECOWAS regions. Premier’s history dates back to early 2007, when he and his partner established G&B African Resources Ltd. G&B expand-

ed through ongoing private investment that has funded exploration, resource development and the acquisition of a diversified property and mineral portfolio.

In 2012, the company changed its name from G&B to Premier African Minerals Limited and in the same year was listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in London.

“That was at a time when we’d acquired a number of very good

exploration properties in Zimbabwe and in West Africa. The company reached a point where it needed to be better funded than I was prepared to commit to,” says Mr Roach, who was effectively the sole funder for many years. “Going public was just the logical thing to do for all of us.”

Over the following decade, the Group acquired mineral assets in various stag -

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es of development throughout Africa, including mineral assets where there has been historical production. Today, Premier’s portfolio of strategic metals and mineral projects, at various stages of exploration and development, include the RHA tungsten mine, Katete rare earth element project, and the Zulu lithium and tantalum project in Zimbabwe. In addi -

tion, the company has an interest in MN Holdings Limited, the owner and operator of the Otjozondu Manganese Mining Project in Namibia, Circum Minerals Limited, the owners of the Danakil Potash Project in Ethiopia, Mutare LCT pegmatites in a 50/50 joint venture with Li3 Resources and 50% of early-stage gold exploration in southeast Zimbabwe.

From exploration to production

The project that is currently at the centre of the company’s attention is the Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project that is being commissioned in Zimbabwe. The project is generally regarded as potentially one of the largest undeveloped LCT pegmatite fields in Zimbabwe.

Zulu comprises 14 mineral claims covering a surface area of 3.5 km2 which have good

prospects for lithium and tantalum mineralisation. The Mineral Resource Estimate covers only 35% of Zulu’s known 3.5km surface strike length and the drilling continues to upgrade and expand this Mineral Resource Estimate as the deposit remains open at depth and along strike.

“The project area within which Zulu is contained has an exclusive prospecting order of about 20,000

pilot plant but it is going to be much bigger than that EXECUTIVE INSIGHT MAGAZINE I SPRING 2023

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hectares, so it’s a really large tenement. What is being developed into a mine at the moment is a relatively small component of the known ore body,” says Mr Roach.

“We originally described this as a pilot plant but it is going to be much bigger than that. The target is approximately 4,000 tonnes a month of spodumene but we will have to wait for the confirmation of the geological model to see where it goes from there. I believe based on what we have seen so far, Zulu has the potential to double or triple in size.”

Helping the local economy

Operations started in mid-April, a historical moment for the company, following Premier undertaking key infrastructure developments – the mine was basically built from scratch in the middle of nowhere with no electricity or water supply. Mr Roach pointed out that the development will have long-lasting benefits for the local community, adding that it will lead to employment creation with recruiting and training locals in basic skills as part of the company’s Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance commitments.

“We can’t operate without the buy-in of

local communities. In any event, any resource anywhere in the world belongs to the country, it is the property of the people of the country. As an investor, as a mine builder, you have an opportunity of developing an asset that will be profitable, and with that comes a responsibility to pay taxes and royalties and to deal with displaced communities to at least improve the position that they had. This is exactly what we are doing,” he explains.

“But the effect goes much further – the main water storage dam that has been constructed could last 100 years and probably longer, and will have a major impact on the community, both from a potential agricultural perspective, from a recreational perspective, from a water source perspective. Similarly, the road networks and other infrastructure have been established on the basis that they will last a long time, serving local communities and making their lives easier.”

Resilient business

Mr Roach reflects that while Zulu is the one project that has entered the early stages of production and is busily being commissioned at the moment, Premier has involvements in other exploration properties that have the potential to be just as big

or possibly even bigger than the Zulu mine.

“There is the hardrock lithium Mutare asset in Zimbabwe, to be developed within our 50:50 joint venture with Li3 Resources Inc, plus some other explorations in Zimbabwe. I’m also confident that the manganese operation in Namibia in which we have a minor interest can be turned into a significant asset.”

“My focus at the moment is in the southern African region, although the Ethiopian potash project that we invested in also looks very promising,” he reflects. “To summarise, commissioning the Zulu mine is our priority. Following

that, we will look at the Mutare asset, and then deal with manganese. That is, in a nutshell, where we stand now.”

In concluding, he emphasises that Premier is a remarkably resilient company, an aspect that has helped to get the company where it is today. “There are not too many exploration companies that can actually claim to have taken an exploration project from inception to production. Very few ever get that right. We did, and we’ve seen remarkable growth in the value of our company. That is a huge, and appreciated, achievement.”

We boast of over 30 years of service in the commercial, and industrial areas in low and high voltage.

Supply, Installation, Reticulation of general electrics, security systems, solar power; cabling, fittings; architectural coring; maintenance; electricity transmission; sub-station installation and decommissioning.

Belmont Electrical is dedicated to developing the company to a greener and environmentally friendly work code and are proud sponsors and participants of the ‘pumping legs for water’ campaign for Hwange national park.

Belmont Electrical

Electrical Engineering, Reticulation, and Installation.

Belmont Electrical is a member of the Association of Business in Zimbabwe & the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe