Firering Strategic Minerals has initiated quicklime production at its Limeco project in Zambia, following the successful operation of its gasifier and Kiln 1. The company plans to ramp up production to between 600 and 800 tonnes per day by late 2025 and aims to become Zambia’s largest quicklime producer, benefiting the copper industry.
Firering Strategic Minerals has commenced production of quicklime at its Limeco facility in Zambia after successfully operating its first gasifier and Kiln 1. The company aims to enhance production gradually, targeting a daily output of 600 to 800 tonnes by the end of 2025, solidifying its position as Zambia’s leading quicklime supplier. Key milestones included commissioning Kiln 1 in December and the gasifier in January, which has been consistently operational since February 10, initiating the calcination process using crushed limestone.
The calcination process entails heating limestone to approximately 1,000 degrees Celsius, generating high-quality calcium oxide or quicklime over a cycle lasting seven to nine hours. Firering anticipates an initial optimization period of about 30 days to refine both production quantity and quality. A major project advancement was the transition from heavy fuel oil to gasification as the fuel source for all eight kilns, which is projected to enhance efficiency and cut operating costs significantly.
Each kiln is engineered to yield up to 100 tonnes of quicklime per day, maintained with minimal downtime for scheduled maintenance. CEO Yuval Cohen highlighted the importance of recent developments, indicating, “Last week’s achievements of firing the gasifier and Kiln 1, were significant milestones.” He further noted that Kiln 1 will undergo refiring shortly, leading to the announcement of the first quicklime production within days, followed by a 30-day optimization phase.
Cohen emphasized that reaching steady-state production of 100 tonnes per kiln daily would enable Limeco to produce over 200,000 tonnes of quicklime annually. This output would position the company as one of Zambia’s prominent quicklime suppliers, catering to the expanding copper industry in the Central African Copperbelt. As of 14:07 GMT, shares of Firering Strategic Minerals increased by 1.42%, trading at 5.38p.
Firering Strategic Minerals has taken significant steps by starting quicklime production at its Limeco project, aiming for increased output of 600 to 800 tonnes daily by 2025. The move to gasification as a fuel source is expected to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. With optimized operations, the company is set to become a major supplier in Zambia’s copper industry.
Original Source: www.sharecast.com
