RE: Mahenge graphite Rns out22 May 2024 16:12
Rover, no point in paying for a FEED study if it lies on the shelf for 1-2 years awaiting conditions that will benefit the company and finance can be sought. It will be out of date in regards to process/design (things move on ) and costs will quickly change.
1. Infrastructure cost savings and ESG benefits from said infrastructure
2. If a billion dollar project doesn't get lift off, then hard sell for finance of a smaller project. Getting due diligence and a big project off the line makes it easier for subsequent projects to get finance due to derisking of the region and country and also to get better rates due to lower risk.
I'd say the trigger will be pulled on FEED update when BKT get financed and it is certain that the infrastructure will be paid for, giving certainty to the FEED study and the DFS for those savings and ESG benefits..
Outside factors have had a detrimental affect on progress, lead billion dollar project delayed with partners, then with finance and I am pretty sure the Gov wouldn't sanction any other project to move forward until its darling project bringing so many benefits to the region is in the bag. They will lift living standards in the area whilst creating a mining hub for jobs and taxes etc. ESG lift for whole region opening up trade worldwide rather than China.
Annoyed as many are, including me that we have been put in queue essentially, the development of the region and the 'long' term benefits to projects operating out of it are quite important in regards to money saved, derisked region and ESG. These are somewhat more important for a 15 yr project (as it stands) than the quest for people to breakeven/be in profit in the short term. Some people entered a trade, saw that that it was an investment, ignored their realisation for 320 days, went into a loss position and then whinge incessently on the internet that they were duped. Especially when they confirmed they already knew they were duped for 320 days, THEY (all their own choice at this stage, no one to blaim other than themselves) still held and still moan.......which is not you by the way...