Here's an informed view on the subject - pinched from the ADVFN board earlier today. (Must say I concur entirely)...
"There has been a lot of work to eliminate the need for cobalt as a stabiliser from batrery technology. So far that hasn't been successful. Similarly, efforts to find a replacement for graphite in the battery anode have been equally unsuccessful. Yes, something like silicon would provide greater density, but graphite is superior when it comes to absorption of lithium ions during the charge cycle, as other materials swell and crack. The primary argument for eliminating cobalt from the battery is because of the ESG principles surrounding it's extraction from places like the Congo. Ultimately that can be overcome, and Vale at Voiseys Bay are an example of that. Additionally, producers in the Congo are upping their game. The lack of 'acceptable' supply resulted in cobalt prices running very high a few years ago, and that was the other worry that battery manufacturers had. The price has come down a lot, thus making it less of an issue. Research that I've done on the market leaves me pretty satisfied that cobalt will be a key battery ingredient for at least the next decade or two. In that time a lot will change as far as extraction and supply is concerned. From what Julian has said about APF's extensive due diligence into the cobalt market, it would appear they've drawn the same conclusion."
I thought you might when you saw KF Albus! To redress the balance, here's JT with Proactive today:
https://youtu.be/njpqhLN903g
240p target for APF from RBC
Higher battery metals is of course a good thing for companies like APF. But, we don't want them to go too high. In the short term it won't be a problem, but longer term manufacturers will be looking for the most cost efficient ways - ie, chemistry, battery constituents etc to produce a battery. If, for example, cobalt runs really hot again then alternatives will look more attractive - whether that be solid state or something else.
That said, APF is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the global drive towards electrification, with exposure to key metals and, crucially, not carrying any operator risk. Julian has his head screwed on here. He knows the key is to not only be positioned in critical metals, but for the operation/s to produce the given metal in a superior way to the vast majority of competitors. Whether that be a cobalt stream from one of the world's biggest ni sulphide mines with a low carbon footprint (VB), or a nickel/cobalt operation using cutting edge green/clean processing tech (Piaui), or in the case of LIORC a low emission pellet that is superior to many of its competitors. ESG, in my opinion, gets ever more important as time goes on. It's only a matter of time before mining projects that don't have whiter than white ESG credentials get left on the sidelines.
This time with Julian:
https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/amp/news/942491?__twitter_impression=true&s=09
More colour on the transaction and cobalt market
https://webcasting.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcast/603551961e24d464e23e249c
Yes, it's a superb deal. It'll also prove to be the first step to APF becoming the 'go-to' investment vehicle for institutional and private investors looking for exposure to the underlying commodities involved in the green/clean energy revolution - from a responsibly sourced, ESG accredited standpoint. A very bright future indeed.
Replay now available of the webcast
https://webcasting.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcast/602ec5f61fc46330548fabb0
https://youtu.be/mxn7xk1jZcM
Interview with the management team at Brazilian Nickel. Another key asset going forward for APF
Admission of shares isn't until tomorrow (26th), so unlikely many (if any) will show in your account until after open tomorrow. I've taken a few PB placings in the past. Some have been in my account on the day of admission, some have been a couple of days later. Really depends on the broker - some are quicker than others.
Besides, if you have been following APF for any period of time you'd know exactly why they're diversifying their income and moving away from coal
Sorry, I meant primarily shipped to India and some to Korea.
Kestrel shipped primarily to Korea. Only 5% was shipped to China
What a fantastic acquisition. Long life cobalt stream on one of the best nickel sulphide mines in the world. Funnily enough Altius have a royalty on the nickel produced there. That merger is getting ever closer I think
No idea why the question marks appeared when I copied the text. Apologies
https://roskill.com/news/nickel%E2%80%AFsustainability%E2%80%AFbrazilian%E2%80%AFnickel-advances%E2%80%AFpiaui%E2%80%AFproject%E2%80%AFusing-heap-leaching/
Brazilian?Nickel?(BN)?announced the?final phase of?a Bankable Feasibility Study?(BFS)?at its?100%?owned?PiauĂ?nickel-cobalt?laterite?project, north-east of?Brazil, on 18 February,?2021.
The project has a Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) compliant mineral resource of 72Mt of ore at 1.0% Ni and 0.05% Co. The operation has a planned average annual nickel and cobalt output of?25kt and 0.6kt, respectively, over eight years. BN?expects the BFS to be completed by the end of Q1-2022.??
Roskill View??
The PiauĂ?project is one of many nickel-cobalt projects currently being advanced. However,?BN intends to treat the ore by heap leaching.?Nickel?laterite ores?have?three main?process routes?in commercial operation: hybrid caron, pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processing.?
Heap leaching has been successfully used?in the copper and gold mining sectors. Still, it has yet to be practically demonstrated as?a?viable stand-alone route in the nickel laterite?sector.??One of the key advantages of?heap leaching is that it has?a lower capital intensity?than high–pressure acid leach (HPAL) projects.??
I've joined you chaps here too. Looks a very interesting proposition, and exposure to some key areas going forward. Will be interesting to see how the companies in the portfolio develop. Many have a significant chamc of developing into a key sector innovator
Brazilian Nickel news this morning:
"We are pleased to announce the commencement of the BFS at our PiauĂ #Nickel Project marking the next stage of the Project which is set to produce an average of 25,000 tonnes of $nickel and 900 tonnes of #cobalt per year" https://t.co/yM3VEJbYcU $BRN #BRN