Premier African Minerals Limited provided an update on operations at Zulu Lithium and Tantalum. Highlights: Zulu engineering team has taken over as operator with responsibility to deal with outstanding plant issues. Accordingly, Stark International Projects Limited has withdrawn all personnel from Zulu.

Premier has undertakings from all relevant OEM to provide such support as requested and may be required in the continuing optimisation, remedy and improvement of the plant. Premier has engaged a major independent EPCM contractor to undertake a complete survey and review of the plant as installed. Issues with pH measurement and automatic reagent dosing are resolved to the extent necessary to ensure plant operations.

Final integration of the thickener is underway and is expected complete during the week commencing 18 March 2024. Contract miner is back at site after a delay caused by several factors, not the least availability of explosives. The plant is operational, and Premier will focus on achieving the design throughput and standards with the assistance as needed of the various OEMs. A complete cleanout of the float section of the plant is underway to ensure that material inadequately treated before remedy of the pH related problems is removed from the plant.

Recently produced concentrates are adversely affected by the pH issues, however spodumene concentrate floated in the main plant on 12 March is now at SC6 grade. Mining is now closely supervised, and a team has been appointed to inspect ROM pad ore for any waste contamination. Dorfner Anzaplan GmbH has been reengaged to reevaluate the sensor-based sorters currently installed and to advise on any recommended changes.

Certain additional upgrades are expected to the Ultraviolet sorters and direct communication and arrangements will be made with the OEM. As announced on 24 June 2022, Premier accepted a proposal and a quotation to design, supply and deliver to Zulu and to assemble and commission a plant at an additional charge, that was to meet certain specific design and through-put specifications ("Zulu Plant Performance"). The plant was expected to produce Spodumene concentrate at 6% Li20 from March 2023.

The plant had not met the specific design and through-put specifications a year after the original target completion date. Material reasons have been set out in previous announcements. Accordingly, Premier has requested that Stark demobilise and leave Zulu immediately and Stark has agreed and done so.

Stark and Premier will continue to engage on the final terms and conditions of any separation and on how best to move forward, however at this time there is a dispute between Stark and Premier pertaining to the Zulu Plant Performance. Premier fully reserves its rights in this regard. At this time the Zulu plant is being run by the Zulu management team.

Premier is now the operator of Zulu.