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told us at the weekend there's some news on the way ...

Don't want to talk about other shares on here. Its all about BEN.

(But re the other one - I have been in in the past. would not trust george roach 1 inch. dodgy jurisdiction. so many risks and unknowns. having a pleasing run for PIs at the moment but it can collapse as quickly as it has risen - no cash, production, profit etc to underpin sp.)

... meant to conclude, IMO this is why positive news about (i) the wash plant and then (ii) the rail link will be transformational for BEN and BEN investors. GLA

BEN's progress from IPO in Oct21 to recent start of production ahead of schedule has been nothing short of stunning. But in my view things are only just starting to get exciting.

As soon as the wash plant is running optimally - any time around now - we'll be shipping clean coal and doubling the profit per ton delivered (likely still by truck until rail link operational). This will be a major value inflection point - serious net profits will start to be achieved, weekly.

Rail link operational (around end feb / early mar) is a further major value inflection point. The constraints of trucking product will be removed, and with wash plant running optimally, it will be worth cranking up production through high wall miner 1. I expect we'll very quickly be shipping 20k tonnes per month or more - 20k tonnes equates to a minimum of $2m per month net profit, probably a lot more at current met coal prices.

I'm sure AW will be looking to ramp this up to MHW's contracted minimum monthly production with hwm1 of 40k tonnes. And later in the spring he'll be able to add the recently purchased 2nd high wall miner into the mix too.

Up to now the interest and excitement around BEN has been about the potential, and this has propelled the sp upwards. Looking forward from now its going to be about delivery - production, cash and profit - (so rarely achieved by AIM companies) and in my view as the company starts to report $multi-million sales and profits every month, this is going to drive the sp very much higher.

I like this: 'Coal supplies set to tighten - Coal prices are robust on supply issues related to lack of investment in the industry since 2015, COVID-19 disruptions and ESG issues, said Thrasher. "People simply can't bring their mines back to pre-COVID capacity, certainly in the US, traditionally a swing supplier to fill gaps, but that capacity doesn't exist today," he said. US coal output has fallen by around 50% since 2017 and it's not possible to bring this back online, even with high prices, he said.'

BEN is bucking that trend having brought its own US mine back into production with output set to increase dramatically, seeking licensing deals to process for neighbours (1st is in the bag) and with the possibility of acquisitions of other projects with their own resource and infrastructure.

With demand for product high and projected to remain for years, prices high, production elsewhere declining, own resources substantial etc etc ... BEN is in a perfect storm ... in a good way ... no, in a great way!

Thanks to Alex in the other place for this very informative article:
https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/metals/111821-met-coal-demand-from-blast-furnaces-supported-for-two-three-decades-yet-ft-summit

mark - not sure where you're getting that info from? looks to me like still stable at high level of $335/ton
https://www.argusmedia.com/metals-platform/price/assessment/PA00128862100

Note BEN all-in costs estimated at up to $150 per ton, so $150+ per ton profit. Once we're achieveing production of 40k tons per month (the current contract with Mega Highwall Mining) and assuming we can sell all we mine (Integrity have said they'll take the lot) that's $6m per month profit, just with 1st high wall miner. As many know, 2nd high wall miner purchased and coming soon which potentially doubles above.

Cash machine?!

I'm really glad the market is beginning to understand what BEN is all about and has to offer investors.

Long term the story is very appealing, with much higher market cap (and hence sp) and substantial dividends very achievable.

Short term there are so many bits of news which could hit any time, and any could be a trigger for a step change in sp.

What will AW come up with next?!

Very exciting times. GLA

in sp over last few days, but reminder, this is just the beginning.

once wash plant and rail fully up and running (hopefully mid and late this month respectively) ..
target 40k tons pm production comes into sight. @ $100 net profit / ton (v conservative) = $4m pm ($48m pa) net profit
with p/e 6 (low for sector), x rate .75 = sp of 62p

BUT
profit with current v high met coal price likely $150/ton min - adds 50% to above = 93p
we have purchased 2nd high wall miner, aim to be running asap - potentially doubles all above = 186p
p/e of 6 is low - sector average (coal) is 12, and BEN should be higher (no debt, good jurisdiction) - doubles all above again = 372p

then add possibiity of processing on royalty basis for neighbours, acquisitions ...
and dividend(s) this year

phew! good luck all BEN investors ..

Opportunity ahead of plan to ship coal and generate income, profit. Tick. We all knew rail not operational til late Feb / early Mar. Got 2 crews working on it - we know AW wants it done ASAP.

Mark - thanks, BEN from 56:20

In case anyone missed it and has a bit of time today, here's Adam Wilson's superb interview with Proactive Investors from last thursday. Essential listening if you are in BEN or thinking about it. Enjoy (as they say on MasterChef) ...

https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/973080/bens-creek-group-prepares-to-double-production-at-its-west-virginia-mine-in-the-us-973080.html

I'm sticking with BEN. It has reached an advanced and significantly de-risked stage, all planning requirements cleared and is in production, generating income and profit. It is operating in a safe jurisdiction and the business proposition is clear, focussed and straightforward. It is run by a very experienced, knowledgeable CEO with good industry and market links, who communicates frequently, enthusiastically and extremely well. He is very clear in both strategic direction and short term plans, and he delivers, repeatedly. He has stressed his commitment to shareholders at every available opportunity, and has a very significant amount of 'skin in the game' himself. BEN has a large resource of its own and there is considerable potential to add to it through assorted deals with neighbours, a process which is already underway with first licence deal signed. There are a small number of CLNs and no debt.

The economics suggest cash flow, profit, market cap and sp could reach multiples of current level during 2022. And there is CEO commitment to start providing dividend(s) to shareholders as soon as is practicable.

I know AW was being extremely careful about this in yesterday's proactive interview, but i've a feeling that's because something good is very close indeed. could even be monday knowing the speed he works at. I do hope so!

Bear - I tried 1 or 2 minor trades which always backfire, so firmly sitting on hands now! It can feel a bit gritty when sp steps back a little from a high (even intra-day) and you think coulda shoulda... But it's clear BEN is in a strong upward trend of higher highs (and higher lows), and we know there's a raft of developments, news etc in coming days and weeks, so it's a great journey to be on.

Bear - I'm quite enjoying the steady growth (in a slightly masochistic way). I think it shows there's confidence, but it's not being over-egged, so no pump and dump. Sensible steps, consolidation, establishing new solid bases, and I suspect a large core of holders of the small free-float who aren't gonna sell anything til sp well past £1. And if the plans are realised sp of £2++ is achievable within 12 months. PLUS expectation of possibly substantial dividends starting in-year this year. Very happy with BEN.

BBD - I agree. And you can't know what the outcome is going to be until you've done the trial and analysed all the data, so very poor rationale from the critic. An immediate success from the work is that it increases confidence in the safety and quality of the hVIVO approach. It advances knowledge and moves us closer to being able to use the approach in more at-risk groups, for whom the eventual outcomes and benefits may be far more significant. In addition, as one of the other scientists says: "It should make some people more comfortable with doing more human-challenge trials for SARS-CoV-2 ... Such trials could prove useful in the development of vaccines that protect against a broad range of coronaviruses, not just SARS-CoV-2 "

This in latest issue of Nature Briefing. I know we now know it, but good that its getting into publications like this ..
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00319-9?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=00eba5fa44-briefing-dy-20220203&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-00eba5fa44-46198774

Mark - hope you're right!

Bill - dividends will go to anyone who holds shares when they're announced. I think that what AW means is that it favours early investors as they got more shares for their money. But this sp has only just begun its upward journey - theres a very long way to go yet ... into the £s IMHO - so it's a very good time to invest for both capital growth and dividend returns.