REG - Firering Strategic - Commencement of First Quicklime Production Process

Firering Strategic MineralsAnnouncement

19/02/2025 07:00

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RNS Number : 5640X  Firering Strategic Minerals PLC  19 February 2025

Firering Strategic Minerals plc / EPIC: FRG / Market: AIM / Sector: Mining

 

19 February 2025

Firering Strategic Minerals plc

("Firering" or "the Company")

 

Successful Firing of Gasifier & Kiln 1:

Commencement of First Quicklime Production Process

 

Advancing Objective to Become Zambia's Largest Quicklime Producer

 

Firering Strategic Minerals plc, an emerging quicklime production and critical
mineral exploration company, is pleased to announce the firing of its first
gasifier and Kiln 1 at its Limeco quicklime project ('Limeco' or the
'Project') on 10 and 12 February 2025 respectively, marking the commencement
of quicklime production at Limeco.

 

Yuval Cohen, Chief Executive of Firering, commented: "Last week's achievements
of firing the gasifier and Kiln 1, were significant milestones. The gasifier
has been running successfully since 10 February and Kiln 1 will be refired
later this week at which point the first quicklime will be produced and
announced within days. This will be followed by an estimated 30-day
optimisation period. This is a key step towards achieving full-scale
operations across all eight kilns by the end of 2025.  Once at steady-state
production (100 tonnes of quicklime per kiln per day) Limeco will produce over
200,000 tonnes annually, establishing itself as one of Zambia's largest
quicklime producers and an important supplier to the growing copper industry
in the Central African Copperbelt."

 

Details

Following the successful commissioning of the gasifier and Kiln 1, phased
production is now underway at the Limeco project, with a target of 600-800
tonnes of quicklime per day by the end of 2025. A key development in this
process has been the conversion of the fuel source for the eight lime kilns
from Heavy Fuel Oil to gasification. This successful change will improve
operational efficiency and significantly reduce plant operating costs.

 

Having commenced mechanical commissioning of Kiln 1 in December 2024 and the
first gasifier in January 2025, firing both the gasifier and Kiln 1 last week
is a major achievement for Limeco. The gasifier has been successfully and
consistently running since 10 February, enabling the Company to move forward
to refiring the kiln following commissioning adjustments, with crushed
limestone (-90mm to +60mm), at the end of this week.  Over several days, the
temperature inside the kiln will gradually rise to approximately 1,000°C.
Once this temperature is reached, the limestone will undergo a thermal
decomposition process, known as calcination, for 7 to 9 hours, producing
high-quality calcium oxide (CaO), or quicklime.  Following the delivery of
this first quicklime production, we expect to have a period of approximately
30 days to optimise production quantity and quality.

 

The first kiln, like the remaining seven kilns, is expected to produce up to
100 tonnes of quicklime per day, operated continuously on a 24/7 basis, with
only brief pauses for scheduled maintenance. This efficient process ensures a
steady supply of quicklime, maximising energy usage while minimising waste.

Figure 1: Successful firing of the gasifier (10 February 2025).

 

Figure 2: Successful firing of burners of Kiln 1 (12 February 2025).

 

Figure 3: View of gasifier and gas ducting connecting gasifier to lime plant.

 

 

Figure 4: View of gasifier.

Figure 5: View of gasifier with lime plant in the background.

 

*** ENDS ***

 

For further information visit www.fireringplc.com or contact:

 

 Firering Strategic Minerals                          E: info@firering-holdings.com

 Yuval Cohen
 SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (Nominated Adviser)  T: +44 20 3368 3550

 Neil Baldwin / James Keeshan
 Optiva Securities Limited (Joint Broker)             T: +44 20 3137 1903

 Christian Dennis / Daniel Ingram
 Shard Capital Partners LLP (Joint Broker)            T: +44 20 7186 9950

 Damon Heath / Erik Woolgar
 St Brides Partners Limited (Financial PR)            E: firering@stbridespartners.co.uk

 Isabel de Salis / Susie Geliher / Seb Weller

 

Notes

Firering Strategic Minerals plc, an AIM-listed resource company, is positioned
to scale up production in 2025 at its quicklime project in Zambia to produce
600-800 tonnes of quicklime daily along with a range of ancillary products.
With over US$100 million in historical investment, the project is
strategically positioned to support the expanding copper producers in the
Zambian Copper Belt, which are currently reliant on imported quicklime from
South Africa.  Firering currently holds an SPA over a 20.5% stake in Limeco
Resources Limited ("Limeco") with 16.7% already paid and an option to increase
this to 45%. Additionally, the Company is advancing the Atex Lithium-Tantalum
Project in northern Côte d'Ivoire, an exploration project rich in lithium and
tantalum-niobium, with drilling results indicating significant resource
potential in this established mining jurisdiction.

 

 

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