IM-listed Firering Strategic Minerals has achieved significant milestones in its Zambian operations with the successful upgrade and restart of production at the Limeco quicklime facility, alongside the acquisition of a ten-year mining licence. This licence secures access to a Tier 1 limestone deposit, positioning the company for more than five decades of sustained production.
The company announced that Kiln 1, which was commissioned earlier this year, has undergone extensive refurbishment. The upgrades included the installation of a new induced draft fan motor and a variable speed drive, which have improved stability and allowed for a consistent output of 45 to 50 tonnes per day. After being taken offline in July for scheduled maintenance and system optimization, the kiln was successfully reignited in August, achieving full operational capacity on schedule.
Building on this progress, Firering has commenced refurbishment work on Kiln 2. The final components are being shipped from India, and hot commissioning is expected in the near future. The company noted that operational lessons learned from Kiln 1 are being applied to enhance Kiln 2, with further improvements planned across Kilns 3 and 4. Ultimately, Limeco is targeting production scalability to between 600 and 800 tonnes per day across its eight-kiln plant, a move that will significantly boost regional supply.
Firering’s Chief Executive Officer, Yuval Cohen, expressed optimism about the company’s trajectory, noting that both operational progress and market demand are creating strong momentum. “We are delighted with the progress at Limeco, which gives us confidence as we roll out the plan to bring further kilns online. A strengthening sales pipeline with a more diverse product range firmly puts Limeco on track to become a leading supplier of high-quality quicklime to the region,” Cohen said.
Market demand has already validated Firering’s expansion strategy. The company recently recorded its first sale of lower-grade quicklime, turning what was previously considered waste material into a new revenue stream. This diversification highlights Limeco’s ability to respond flexibly to different customer requirements while maximizing value from its production lines.
To further drive growth, Firering has appointed an experienced in-house salesperson with deep knowledge of Zambia’s quicklime market. The company is also evaluating additional product lines to meet the needs of both local and regional clients, underscoring its commitment to establishing a strong commercial footprint.
For now, production feedstock for Kiln 1 is being sourced from a stockpile exceeding 150,000 tonnes. However, with the newly granted mining licence, Limeco will transition toward direct mining once the stockpile diminishes. Mining operations are expected to commence in the final quarter of 2026, ensuring a seamless supply chain.
The ten-year licence, which includes renewal provisions, covers Limeco’s Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC)-compliant resource of 145.2 million tonnes at a calcium carbonate grade of 95.7%. This resource comprises 11.8 million tonnes in the measured category, 55.4 million tonnes indicated, and 78 million tonnes inferred. With such reserves in place, Firering has secured the foundation for more than 50 years of quicklime production, reinforcing its long-term vision for the Zambian operation.
Firering’s dual achievement of operational upgrades and licence acquisition marks a pivotal chapter in the company’s expansion. With demand surging and capacity steadily increasing, Limeco is well-positioned to play a central role in supplying high-quality quicklime to Zambia and its surrounding markets for decades to come.
