I recently returned from Los Angeles where I attended a conference put on by Infocast on rare metals and their supply chain. After the meeting I had a chance to interview Gary Billingsley of Great Western Minerals, and Gareth Hatch, of Dexter Magnetic Technologies and the RareMetalBlog, on the Steenkampskraal mine in South Africa and the use of heavy rare earths for magnets:
Jack Lifton is a leading authority on the sourcing and end use trends of rare & strategic metals. He was a co-founder of Technology Metals Research and is President of Jack Lifton, LLC, consulting for institutional investors doing due diligence on metal-related opportunities. The views and opinions expressed by Jack on this archived Web site are his alone. Such views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of any other person or entity.
I’ve just watched with interest your interview with Gary Billingsley and Mr. Hatch. Two questions came to mind:- 1. At a time when there is talk of the South African government drawing closer to China in terms of commercial relationships, one wonders just how confident Gary Billingsley is that the mine permit will be renewed soon. 2. I believe that all such projects now have to satisfy black empowerment criteria before official approval is given. This was not mentioned in the interview but any involvement of a black empowerment partner could have material implications in terms of both time and control. Is this an issue here?
About Black economic empowerment, I was also searching an answer to it and found it at Avlon presentation. http://avalonraremetals.com/_resources/IL_010.01_Magnetics.pdf page 36 Steenkampskraal • Awaiting re-permitting approval under new mining laws (1Q10) • Partnered with Black Empowerment Group at 26% • Production / Financing Decision 1Q10 • Production 2H11
Jack-
Any idea why the stock has tanked over the last couple of months… and is it worth hanging onto for both the loing and short term?
Thanks.
Tim
Jack,
I’ve just watched with interest your interview with Gary Billingsley and Mr. Hatch. Two questions came to mind:-
1. At a time when there is talk of the South African government drawing closer to China in terms of commercial relationships, one wonders just how confident Gary Billingsley is that the mine permit will be renewed soon.
2. I believe that all such projects now have to satisfy black empowerment criteria before official approval is given. This was not mentioned in the interview but any involvement of a black empowerment partner could have material implications in terms of both time and control. Is this an issue here?
Cedric Lark
About Black economic empowerment, I was also searching an answer to it and found it at Avlon presentation.
http://avalonraremetals.com/_resources/IL_010.01_Magnetics.pdf
page 36
Steenkampskraal
• Awaiting re-permitting approval under new mining
laws (1Q10)
• Partnered with Black Empowerment Group at 26%
• Production / Financing Decision 1Q10
• Production 2H11
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