Member Info for BenAlder

17/5/22 - UK Government must spend £20 billion on energy battery storage to meet 2030 renewables targets
https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/storage/uk-government-must-spend-20-billion-on-20220517

The Board notes the absence of any recent press speculation and confirms that it has no news to announce at this time. It’s a secret, however the Board can confirm that the company Christmas party will be going ahead this year. We will update shareholders with a little more detail nearer the time.

Funny how the moaners today admit that progress has been made on the ground and even profitability achieved, but think it is all hopeless, in that the SP will never reflect this. I thought that was the trick of investing. Buy under loved, undervalued shares that are working to build a good profitable business, before the herd arrives. Timing is the variable, but this is a very cheap share with very good prospects and eventually the market will notice. Large shareholder is offloading the last of their shares, so could be any day now.

And windmills!

Russian vanadium will eventually find a market. They will start flogging their assets to the East at discounted prices, but most of these companies will already have supply contracts in place, so it won’t be immediate.

China would take the vanadium, but not steel from Russia, as it has its own industry to protect. This may lead to a reduction in supply from BMN to China in the medium term, as China seems to have a very large requirement for vanadium to complete its VRFB aspirations in that time frame, but the west only really has Brazil and S. Africa to replace the Russian supply. Europe will probably take up the slack from China in any case. Lots of tanks to build!

Well done eatstocks.

It looks like covid in China and the search for reliable energy supplies in Europe may reduce the steel production in these markets for a while, and the USA will continue at full pelt, keeping their prices higher but pegged back and eroded by these other markets. Thereafter, I’d expect both these markets to ramp up steel production, bringing back the upwards pressure on V prices again.

It is worth noting that current Li prices are making VFRBs projects more attractive. The Li market is going to keep those prices high for a while, assuming demand for EVs does not decline suddenly, as supply is constrained for now. It is also becoming a contentious issue environmentally because of the amount of water used in the process.

I thought Primorus may hold for gain too, as they made reference to BMN’s opportunities to their own shareholders and elected for shares. BMN would be in a position to pay cash in lieu of these share instalments. I thought that this arrangement was a bit naive and designed more as a PR exercise for BMN shareholders, as the amounts are small and they still have the ability to wreck the SP at a later date with their total holding. I’d rather they sell now then later, but what is best for their investors/shareholders?

Its quite likely that Duferco/Grafton had an arrangement whereby a broker takes the lot at say 10p a share and then flogs them over a period of time at a higher average, never over selling, but tending to balance the buyers and keeping the price flat, as we have seen today. Broker probably reports total left at end of each month and Grafton reports if that moves them across a threshold, so always a lag in the register. Grafton is either guaranteed a price or has already received payment, although not technically passed on ownership. The short can be insurance for the deal in case the average SP is not achieved. When they are finished, we will move up quickly. In theory!

Been expecting the inevitable re-rate for so long that when it comes I'll feel I've earnt it. Some shares are easy or lucky (steady,quick?), this has felt like hard work! Apart from the global picture, this share has never looked brighter. Que next obstacle! I don't think I could take it! Some of these financial jurno's need to get their fingers out and highlight this share and Fortune, perhaps should drop the conservative approach and give a (slightly) stretched production target and positive opinion on V prices for the year ahead, in the next Update. Tell us customers are banging at the door wanting tons of the stuff. We are over that stagnant period of building are onto the next phase, so stuff to shout about and money rolling in! Time to see Mr Crux again.

@Halespur – I know. Because its not traded on an open market like other commodities, I have found it lumped in with other minerals
‘Russia Exports of beryllium, chromium, germanium, vanadium, gallium, hafnium to United States was US$27.49 Million during 2020, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.’
It was near $60M in2018.
https://tradingeconomics.com/russia/exports/united-states/beryllium-chromium-germanium-vanadium-gallium-hafnium

Its not important enough to me to dig deeper.

If you look at Russian exports on that site, the top importers are all countries that are currently sanctioning it, only China and India are not. The site is not very user-friendly.

@Pdub – No worries. I am lazy. I read widely and its all a blur in my head afterwards, but paints a picture. I hate referencing since Uni. But then what is a fact? Useless without opinion. I am a windbag as it is, imagine if I had to backup every opinion I express! Hope you are doing well.

Ouch! - Probably not as much as you yours.

Well Europe and USA was importing some vanadium from Russia. I can’t get figures, but suffice to assume this is creating short supply pressure in those markets, while China is slowing down due to Covid.

Covid and now this war has changed Industry strategy from ‘Just in time’ to ‘Just in case’. Canny businesses are stocking up on material now to ensure they stay in business. This period should keep prices high for a while, but could lead to stock piling which could hold back prices later.

Whilst I am for high V prices, it becomes damaging if it goes too far. This is Goldilocks territory here at $60, but the World is still in flux.

Thanks for clarifying that.

@Lindon, I was looking for that but could not find it as I was searching for VERL. VERL comes under BELCO does it not? I remember thinking that they sneaked it into the RNS at the time and it was taking money off MN. But on the BMN website the BE section suggests it is still part of BE. Is that statement suggesting just a change operationally rather than to the company structure?

No Larry, well yes, but unlikely for a couple of years until recession or more cheap supply hits the market, and its still debatable. Historic pricing is out the window based on current supply/demand forecasts. We may become accustomed to a Vprice at this level or higher for years. DYOR because WTFDIK.

I think it will, but more like 5 years being SA. I agree with what you say, my point being, I don’t think any BE news will arrive to shake the SP in the next few months.

I am happy with my investment in any case. I will start worrying again when V falls below $38 kg. ATB!

@HarChris You say “BE update that could land anytime that'll have the bigger impact.” What, why. Sentiment? . I’m interested to hear your opinion.

BE will add nothing to the bottom line for a couple of years and there is no information about costs and margins. I think some expect too much when it is all guess work at the moment, although I am intrigued by Cellcube and its potential. Otherwise BE is just a holding company to pay MN’s wages from. Check budget allocation to BE and his salary in case I am being overly cynical, lol.

We are all waiting on a catalyst to spark this SP, but I think a lot will remain in the dark about BE for a while yet. I see it as extra jam for tomorrow. The continued expansion of vanadium production is still going to be the focus in the short term, although, it is worth noting, they have never stopped supporting VRFBs, it is being kept secret it seems. Eskom will be as slow going ahead as it has taken so far, so that does not excite me much. Cellcube does.

I still believe this constant holding back of the share price is Duferco selling. There are signs of potential II buyers, or at least a big buyer, who knows, but regardless of being on AIM, this must be an attractive little stock for different funds. Strategic metals, miners, energy, green, bargain basement, etc. Once they can see BMN as a stable producer/earner they will snap this up.

Its waiting that a killer!

@ $60+ KgV - Will make any company and its BOD look like saints. Market is too slow and stupid to realise yet.

@alfredh You are stating facts in a selective way to manipulate sentiment, or demonstrating ignorance of the company and its journey to get here. All your issues are historical, recognised by Fortune and addressed. For example you would realise that upgrading Vanchem as a priority to Vametco is a good thing. DYOR.

@DaisyD You moan about the past and management continuously, but I see you are still here despite the fact Fortune is still in charge, now, and for the foreseeable future. Why? Sell or get another bone to chew on.

I hate pure speculation, but, do you think Duffer Co are out? Heavy selling yesterday, only small ones today, little volume and SP up. Enough volume over the last couple of months to have swallowed their holding. Maybe the lads doing the selling have been at a meeting and haven’t started back yet?

At some point we will experience the thrill of going up on this rollercoaster!