MINING INDABA REVIEW
Following its recent hot commissioning, AIM-quoted Firering Strategic Minerals is focused on optimising its second kiln, after which it will begin modifications to Kilns 3 and 4. The company is advancing several parallel initiatives. These include diversifying its lime product range, expanding into new markets in Zimbabwe and Zambia, and advancing ancillary revenue streams such as the development of a cement plant for limestone powder production, says, Independent Non-Executive Director, Vassilios Carellas. Firering diversifies product offerings and eyes new markets
View of plant from primary crusher.
F irering, a producer of lime products and explorer of critical minerals, is primarily focused on Limeco, a significant lime project in Zambia. Having started production in early 2025, Limeco is now scaling up operations to hit its production target of 600-800 tonnes per day along with a range of ancillary products. The operation includes a fully integrated, modern processing plant featuring Zambia’s first gas-fired vertical kiln, which significantly reduces emissions and enhances energy efficiency. With over $100 million in historical investment, the project is strategically positioned to support the expanding copper producers in the Central African Copperbelt, which are currently reliant on imported lime from South Africa. Explains Carellas: “We encountered several challenges with the first kiln and implemented significant design modifications in the second unit, including adjustments to its internal dynamics. Kiln 2 has now been both cold and hot commissioned, and optimisation efforts are underway to achieve its full production capacity of 80 tonnes per day. Kiln 1 is currently operating at a
throughput of about 55 tonnes per day, although the target is to increase output to around 80 tonnes per day.” Kiln 2 incorporates key operational insights gained during the ramp-up of Kiln 1, with targeted enhancements to the burner system, airflow management, heat distribution and monitoring protocols. These improvements are expected to support a faster and more predictable transition to steady-state production. Firering is pursuing a phased ramp-up strategy, aiming to have all eight kilns operational by the end of 2027. Once fully commissioned, Limeco will become one of the largest producers of lime products in Zambia, strengthening its position as a key player in the country’s industrial and mining sectors. Limeco - a Tier One asset Limeco is underpinned by a Tier One asset, with a substantial, high-purity (95.7%) JORC-compliant resource of 145.2 million tonnes, supporting over 50 years of production. The deposit has currently been drilled to a depth of 80 metres, offering considerable potential
20 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | April 2026
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