Member Info for extrader

ZIOC shares to be suspended 'pending an announcement'.

Announcement ex Brazzaville of an open bidding process.

Summary details in an RNS.

More details at the 'shareholder event', unless this is postponed for a wider audience.

Rationale :

- it's Africa-centric;

- it puts the spotlight v publicly on the asset value TO THE CONGO PEOPLE *and the world, mitigating scope for games by Big Den and to some extent tying in eventual successor(s);

* the contents (in French) of the ESG intentions of Guinea re Simandou will strike a chord(IMO) throughout W Africa;

- reduces 'brown envelope' potential;

- maximizes competition and ensures best outcome for Elphick and GLEN (and therefore PI's);

- market primed by recent Simandou exposure and increased awareness of Pilbara rust problem + FMG's Belinga travails;

- explains the odd gap between rushed announcement 2 Jan and subsequent silence re 11th Feb specifics...a pre-announcement period of time for priming anyone minded to make a 'pre-emptive' bid.

Comments/corrections/alternatives invited!

GLA

Indeed!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore-on-Thames

Said more in sorrow than in anger..

ATB

Interesting.

See this public commitment at Indaba from Guinea's Mines Minister :

https://www.semafor.com/article/02/05/2025/why-the-worlds-biggest-mining-project-is-looking-to-invest-in-education

.."The world’s largest mining project will begin production by the end of the year following decades of delays, Guinea’s mining minister told Semafor — with 5% of eventual revenues earmarked to expand the country’s education system.

Initial shipments from the Simandou mountain range in southeast Guinea — home to the planet’s largest high-grade iron ore deposits — are due to begin by the first quarter of 2026, Minister of Mines and Geology Bouna Sylla said on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town.

The ambition to boost Guinean education with mining profits is the latest attempt by an African government to ensure its citizens benefit from natural resources, which are otherwise typically shipped elsewhere for refining: Sylla likened his government’s plans to those rolled out in previous generations by Southeast Asian nations, singling out Singapore in his comparison..."

.."Under a separate program, the government plans to allocate 20% of state revenue earned from La Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG) — a joint venture that manages railway and port infrastructure built as part of the Simandou project — to fund high school students studying science and engineering abroad, also over 25 years.

Our “long-term sustainable investment is in human capital,” Sylla said."

Other snippets :

- first shipment Q1 2026;

- Sylla agrees the 120 million tonnes of iron ore volume from Simandou, but it will take up to three years to ramp up to this capacity.

- He also said Guinea aims to transform iron ore to steel in a local plant that will produce 500,000 tonnes of steel per year.

An ESG -driven blueprint for others to follow ?

GLA and ATB

Interesting.

See this public commitment at Indaba from Guinea's Mines Minister :

https://www.semafor.com/article/02/05/2025/why-the-worlds-biggest-mining-project-is-looking-to-invest-in-education

.."The world’s largest mining project will begin production by the end of the year following decades of delays, Guinea’s mining minister told Semafor — with 5% of eventual revenues earmarked to expand the country’s education system.

Initial shipments from the Simandou mountain range in southeast Guinea — home to the planet’s largest high-grade iron ore deposits — are due to begin by the first quarter of 2026, Minister of Mines and Geology Bouna Sylla said on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town.

The ambition to boost Guinean education with mining profits is the latest attempt by an African government to ensure its citizens benefit from natural resources, which are otherwise typically shipped elsewhere for refining: Sylla likened his government’s plans to those rolled out in previous generations by Southeast Asian nations, singling out Singapore in his comparison..."

.."Under a separate program, the government plans to allocate 20% of state revenue earned from La Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG) — a joint venture that manages railway and port infrastructure built as part of the Simandou project — to fund high school students studying science and engineering abroad, also over 25 years.

Our “long-term sustainable investment is in human capital,” Sylla said."

Other snippets :

- first shipment Q1 2026;

- Sylla agrees the 120 million tonnes of iron ore volume from Simandou, but it will take up to three years to ramp up to this capacity.

- He also said Guinea aims to transform iron ore to steel in a local plant that will produce 500,000 tonnes of steel per year.

An ESG -driven blueprint for others to follow ?

GLA and ATB

Seb, 2 hrs ago :

🔴YPF judgment creditors renew push for personal communications from Economy Minister Caputo and Other Officials. Judge Preska had previously stayed all discovery related to public officials and the alter ego status of SOEs. This week, creditors also submitted additional evidence supporting claims that Argentina exercises alter ego control over key entities such as the Central Bank, national airline Aerolíneas Argentinas, YPF, and Banco de la Nación Argentina (BNA).

GLA

Nothing new there.

My Dad was at DumDum in 46/7, saw newly-arrived RR Merlin engines unpacked, put on stands and run to destruction with the oil plugs removed.

Unlike Hellfire missiles (perhaps), these would have been useful swords to turn into ploughshares.

He said he was told that our Gubmint didn't want the Indians to have them.

IIRC

;-

But wait - there's more!

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/the-burning-laments-of-fortescue-staff-laid-bare-for-execs-to-see-and-drink-to/news-story/

Extract:

.."The burning laments of Fortescue staff laid bare for execs to see, and drink to

Updated 14 hours ago

The Australian Business Network

43 Comments

..."Fortescue asked, and boy did its executives receive.

The mining group led by Andrew Forrest has engaged in a cute little exercise with its workforce that it’s calling “Ask Us Anything”, in which employees can post anonymous questions to the leadership while even more employees — or even leaders themselves — can submit nameless replies. Well, actually, not all of them are nameless; the bland responses, the most banal and corporate, come with a name. But rest assured, this lark is completely consuming everyone at the organisation.

It’s Frank Costanza’s airing of grievances but on an enormous scale, a Festivus ritual open to more than 20,000 participants across the Forrest empire.

There’s snark, there’s banter. There’s outrage over a tampon and sanitary pad dispenser that’s gone missing from a bathroom.

There’s righteous indignation over women who can swish around the office in skirts during the summer while poor, suffering dudes have to wilt in their neckties and suit jackets.

“Biscuits….. We want biscuits in all kitchens…. Nothing better than a cuppa and a biccy,” said one employee, receiving 37 upvotes from their peers. Meanwhile, someone’s idea for a masala chai machine in the kitchenette received only four upvotes. Philistines..."

and more in the same vein. With some morale issues evident :

.."but what of the Fortescue underclass? They’re getting punted because of Forrest’s failing green energy vision. Remember the secret membrane, or the magic beans of green hydrogen? So much heat, yet so little light..."

and the most upvoted BTL comment ?

.."Just another clear example why across a wide range of investments in resource companies, not a single share in anything Twiggy is involved in.

Likethumb_up50"

I'm glad we'd be on the other side of any deal.....and hopefully in good company.

NAI, DYOR etc etc

GLA

But wait - there's more!

Today's press :

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/the-burning-laments-of-fortescue-staff-laid-bare-for-execs-to-see-and-drink-to/news-story/

Extract:

.."The burning laments of Fortescue staff laid bare for execs to see, and drink to

Updated 14 hours ago

The Australian Business Network

43 Comments

..."Fortescue asked, and boy did its executives receive.

The mining group led by Andrew Forrest has engaged in a cute little exercise with its workforce that it’s calling “Ask Us Anything”, in which employees can post anonymous questions to the leadership while even more employees — or even leaders themselves — can submit nameless replies. Well, actually, not all of them are nameless; the bland responses, the most banal and corporate, come with a name. But rest assured, this lark is completely consuming everyone at the organisation.

It’s Frank Costanza’s airing of grievances but on an enormous scale, a Festivus ritual open to more than 20,000 participants across the Forrest empire.

There’s snark, there’s banter. There’s outrage over a tampon and sanitary pad dispenser that’s gone missing from a bathroom.

There’s righteous indignation over women who can swish around the office in skirts during the summer while poor, suffering dudes have to wilt in their neckties and suit jackets.

“Biscuits….. We want biscuits in all kitchens…. Nothing better than a cuppa and a biccy,” said one employee, receiving 37 upvotes from their peers. Meanwhile, someone’s idea for a masala chai machine in the kitchenette received only four upvotes. Philistines..."

and more in the same vein. With some morale issues evident :

.."but what of the Fortescue underclass? They’re getting punted because of Forrest’s failing green energy vision. Remember the secret membrane, or the magic beans of green hydrogen? So much heat, yet so little light..."

and the most upvoted BTL comment ?

.."Just another clear example why across a wide range of investments in resource companies, not a single share in anything Twiggy is involved in.

Likethumb_up50"

I'm glad we'd be on the other side of any deal.....and hopefully in good company.

NAI, DYOR etc etc

GLA

But wait - there's more!

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/the-burning-laments-of-fortescue-staff-laid-bare-for-execs-to-see-and-drink-to/news-story/

Extract:

.."The burning laments of Fortescue staff laid bare for execs to see, and drink to

Updated 14 hours ago

The Australian Business Network

43 Comments

..."Fortescue asked, and boy did its executives receive.

The mining group led by Andrew Forrest has engaged in a cute little exercise with its workforce that it’s calling “Ask Us Anything”, in which employees can post anonymous questions to the leadership while even more employees — or even leaders themselves — can submit nameless replies. Well, actually, not all of them are nameless; the bland responses, the most banal and corporate, come with a name. But rest assured, this lark is completely consuming everyone at the organisation.

It’s Frank Costanza’s airing of grievances but on an enormous scale, a Festivus ritual open to more than 20,000 participants across the Forrest empire.

There’s snark, there’s banter. There’s outrage over a tampon and sanitary pad dispenser that’s gone missing from a bathroom.

There’s righteous indignation over women who can swish around the office in skirts during the summer while poor, suffering dudes have to wilt in their neckties and suit jackets.

“Biscuits….. We want biscuits in all kitchens…. Nothing better than a cuppa and a biccy,” said one employee, receiving 37 upvotes from their peers. Meanwhile, someone’s idea for a masala chai machine in the kitchenette received only four upvotes. Philistines..."

and more in the same vein. With some morale issues evident :

.."but what of the Fortescue underclass? They’re getting punted because of Forrest’s failing green energy vision. Remember the secret membrane, or the magic beans of green hydrogen? So much heat, yet so little light..."

and the most upvoted BTL comment ?

.."Just another clear example why across a wide range of investments in resource companies, not a single share in anything Twiggy is involved in.

Likethumb_up50"

I'm glad we'd be on the other side of any deal.....and hopefully in good company.

NAI, DYOR etc etc

GLA

Apart from ore grade, Belinga, hydrogen/Arizona/Trump, this issue seems to be coming to a head :

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/wa-turns-up-heat-on-albanese-over-native-title-as-miners-fear-the-worst-for-industry-future/news-story/c

And Twiggy's front and centre here, too :

.."....the time has come to validate the mineral tenure that underpins WA mining. It’s been kicked down the road for the past eight years by all sides of politics. It just needs to be fixed.

“The potential damage this could have on mining operations in WA is significant. If people thought Nature Positive was going to cause tremors in the resources industry, then this has the potential to cause a full-blown earthquake.”

The Australian can reveal WA has been asking for changes to the Native Title Act since 2017 when a court case instigated by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest cast doubt on the legitimacy of numerous leases.

The issue took on new urgency when legal advice on lease renewals was handed to the WA government, raising the prospect of difficult negotiations between miners and traditional owner groups seeking hefty royalties...

The WA government has told the resources industry that lease renewals will trigger right-to-negotiate provisions under the Native Title Act, and that leases in place for more than 40 years won’t be renewed unless companies reach agreement with native title holders or native title claimants.

This is on top of similar concerns around a 2017 High Court ruling in a case known as Forrest & Forrest where Mr Forrest challenged the validity of mining lease applications lodged over his family’s Minderoo cattle station...."

More detail here https://stockhead.com.au/resources/miners-alarm-at-native-title-rule/

Over $ 1 billion has already been set aside as provisions, reportedly.

This may be another 'smoking gun' issue - like the 'Pilbara rust' problem- facing Aussie miners (apart from FMG, BHP, Newmont, Rio and South 32 are cited (OK, by copilot) as affected).

Meanwhile, on the energy supply front, it seems there are all manner of issues there too :

-aging infrastructure;

-unplanned outages;

-high solar power penetration (elevated natural gas prices cause soaring rates in the evenings and at night when solar generation falls and gas-fired generation is needed);

- energy transition;

-market volatility; and

-policy uncertainty.

I suppose this apparent 'clusterf*ck' shows that 'country risk' is relative ....And that maybe the Aussies need Zanaga more than ZIOC needs them?!

GLA

Apart from ore grade, Belinga, hydrogen/Arizona/Trump, this issue seems to be coming to a head :

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/wa-turns-up-heat-on-albanese-over-native-title-as-miners-fear-the-worst-for-industry-future/news-story/c

Twiggy's front and centre here, too :

.."....the time has come to validate the mineral tenure that underpins WA mining. It’s been kicked down the road for the past eight years by all sides of politics. It just needs to be fixed.

“The potential damage this could have on mining operations in WA is significant. If people thought Nature Positive was going to cause tremors in the resources industry, then this has the potential to cause a full-blown earthquake.”

The Australian can reveal WA has been asking for changes to the Native Title Act since 2017 when a court case instigated by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest cast doubt on the legitimacy of numerous leases.

The issue took on new urgency when legal advice on lease renewals was handed to the WA government, raising the prospect of difficult negotiations between miners and traditional owner groups seeking hefty royalties...

The WA government has told the resources industry that lease renewals will trigger right-to-negotiate provisions under the Native Title Act, and that leases in place for more than 40 years won’t be renewed unless companies reach agreement with native title holders or native title claimants.

This is on top of similar concerns around a 2017 High Court ruling in a case known as Forrest & Forrest where Mr Forrest challenged the validity of mining lease applications lodged over his family’s Minderoo cattle station...."

More detail here https://stockhead.com.au/resources/miners-alarm-at-native-title-rule/

This may be another 'smoking gun' issue - like the 'Pilbara rust' problem- facing Aussie miners (apart from FMG, BHP, Newmont, Rio and South 32 are cited (OK, by copilot) as affected.

Meanwhile, on the energy supply front, it seems there are all manner of issues there too :

-aging infrastructure;

-unplanned outages;

- high solar power penetration (elevated natural gas prices cause soaring rates in the evenings and at night when solar generation falls and gas-fired generation is needed);

- energy transition;

-market volatility; and

-policy uncertainty.

I suppose this apparent 'clusterf*ck' shows that 'country risk' is relative ....And maybe the Aussies need Zanaga more than ZIOC needs them?!

GLA

.."e-bot7 was founded by Fabian Beringer, Xaver Lehmann, and Maximilian Gerer in 2016. The company focuses on integrating artificial intelligence to enhance customer service efficiency.."

Forbes lists Beringer and Lehmann as co-founders.

This from vidlab7's Sept 2024 release, post EQT $3.7M Seed Funding :

Meet the Founders

VidLab7 is spearheaded by two seasoned entrepreneurs with a proven track record of success:

Fabian Beringer, CEO: Fabian is one of the key minds behind the successful AI-driven customer service company e-bot7. His entrepreneurial prowess was highlighted in 2021 when he sold e-bot7 to LivePerson, a NASDAQ-listed leader in conversational commerce solutions. His experience and vision are invaluable assets to VidLab7.

Georgi Anastasov, CTO: Georgi is an AI expert with a history of innovation in the sports industry through his company Solos Mirrors. After exiting Solos Mirrors, Georgi lent his expertise to various ventures as a consultant before joining VidLab7. His deep understanding of AI applications and technology development strengthens our core technical capabilities.

‍

Building a Strong Team

In just a few months, VidLab7 has rapidly expanded its team, now consisting of around 10 talented individuals WORKING IN STEALTH MODE. This early growth reflects our commitment to assembling a skilled and dedicated workforce poised to drive our innovative vision forward.

The Future of Customer Outreach

VidLab7’s AI technology enables the CREATION OF PERSONALIZED VIDEOS AT SCALE, a game-changer for sales, outreach, up-selling, cross-selling, and customer success. Our platform allows businesses to engage with their customers in a highly personalized manner, driving better engagement and higher conversion rates..."

I wonder what father and son find to talk about...or if they're allowed to?

Interesting.

GLA

Oops!

.."You earn something every day - at least, I try to. "

That should be 'learn', of course.

I'm counting on various shares - including ZIOC - to do the other.

;->

ATB

Hi 99icecream

No disrespect intended!

Re your Q : neither North nor South, rather this (specific AFAICS) meaning :

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/jib-AT

jib AT something

phrasal verb with jib verb

uk

old-fashioned

(PERSON)

to be unwilling to do or continue with something:

[ + -ing verb ] Although the tax is unpopular, the government has jibbed at abolishing it completely.

More graphically, thinking of FMG's situation , when faced with the new government's 'invitation'

(HORSE)

If a horse jibs at something, it stops suddenly in front of it and refuses to move forward

HTH and ATB

PS I suspect your Northern meaning derives from a variant spelling of 'to gyp someone'.

PPS You earn something every day - at least, I try to. See the other board for a ZIOC-topical example today of AI 'learning' in action!

This is the reality on the ground, per today's depeches report from C-B Parliament :

C-B hydrocarbon-dependent economy can't satisfy local demand for fuel, clean water or electricity as it is.

.."Among the host of problems facing the population , Pierre Ngolo pinpointed, among others, the interminable fuel crisis that has been affecting the country for several months now.

In Brazzaville, for example, to get around, the population pay the heaviest price, with collateral effects that can be seen in rampant inflation.

To this basket of difficulties add the lack of electricity in the city, another source of misfortune for Brazzaville and an important cause of the exaggerated rise in prices of certain food products on the market.

Pierre Ngolo also criticised the shortage of water in the town where taps are still dry. Yet another situation for which the president of the upper house of parliament demands a solution.."

To be fair, this is a problem throughout Central West Africa, being addressed by

.."CENTRAL AFRICA

PEAC explores new ways of financing electricity networks

The work of the Committee of Experts of the Central African Power Pool (PEAC) was launched on 3 February in Brazzaville, against a backdrop of commitment from national electricity companies.

The Committee of Experts aim to ensure better monitoring of activities, including the mobilisation of investment in the construction of electricity network interconnections with a view to the creation of a regional electricity market in Central Africa.

The PEAC is looking for investors for its forty-one electricity-related projects, including twenty-eight priority integration projects (PIP) and 13 other electrification programmes (PPET). .."

These conflabs often turn out to be 'all talk, no action', maybe this time it's different.

GLA and ATB

GLA

What a hoot!

I asked copilot the same questions in other language and - after some hallucinating - it (eventually) came back with the same 3 x co's .... quoting lse (verbatim) as the source...!

This was about 45 mins ago.

I'd no idea that AI trawled the internet that quickly/extensively. Wow!

To be fair, when I queried this, it then came back with :

.."Another source that discusses mining companies making announcements around the Lantern Festival is the Zhongyuan International Group. They have highlighted the significance of the Lantern Festival in their announcements, such as celebrating their sub-company, Sierra Leone Huaxin Mining Co., Ltd., winning an iron ore project.[Ed.: Tonkolili, which is certainly a 'biggie' see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonkolili_mine, but seems to have had a chequered history.

All grist to the mill* ;->

ATB and GLA

* says someone who's just had a toe-reading. Look it up.

Allow me.

This from LaValmy on advfn, who is (or was, may still be) a discloseable shareholder :

.."Next week or the week after was the timescale they were suggesting at the AGM for the UKEF, but of course they have been very wrong about that before.

For people who were not at the AGM, the hold-up has been due to the UK and Indonesia rewriting their standard export credit contracts with SRT's one being the guinea pig - seven other contracts are also waiting behind SRT.

So there should be a flurry of news about the UK and Indonesia on the one hand and SRT specific news with a Bakamla ceremony as well.

I should add that at the AGM it was mentioned that SRT had requested that they not be named in the comuniquee when the President met Starmer.

There will be the interims as well, probably later on in February.

I don't know if anyone else noticed but whenever fish were mentioned all eyes turned to J-F. In all the recruitment descriptions fish are mentioned very frequently as well. I think they are spending reasonably heavily on this segment, yet have only one customer to date and that is stalled as we know. So I suspect that there is a lot more to play for than has been mentioned and that SRT are well down the path of having effective solutions for when their customers grasp that complicated nettle."

NAI and DYOR, of course.

GLA and ATB

Better still, borrow some money from him and buy some shares in MIRI yourself.

OK, I know, I know...

GLA

.."Extrader's post at 02.17 yesterday gives some fairly dramatic figures regarding the benefits of this type of technology..."

This is the claim :

https://www.bindingsolutions.uk/2024/11/binding-solutions-announces-upgrade-of-rd-capabilities-to-accelerate-technology-commercialisation/

.."BSL is a fast-growing technology company that has developed a patented and proprietary process for significantly reducing carbon emissions in iron making, enabling green steel production at scale. Our cold agglomeration technology reduces process complexity, lowers capital requirements and significantly cuts emissions of CO2, NOx and SOx by replacing traditional technologies (induration) in iron and steel making.

BSL’s technology has a very large addressable market of more than 1 billion tonnes [Ed.: about 1/2 the world's steel production....]

We have commercially proven our technology at a major steel plant in the UK where it has operated since 2013. Our technology enables reductions of up to:

• 80% in energy usage

• 70% in carbon dioxide emissions

• 86% in capex

In August 2023, BSL successfully completed a US$17.5m fundraise from Mineral Resources Limited to support the development of a Demonstration Plant. BSL’s Pilot Plant completed Phase 2 and is fully operational, producing up to two tonnes of CAPs per hour for large scale furnace trials.

Our technology has the potential to replace the need for induration processes which are very energy intensive and account for approximately 15% of carbon emissions from the global steel industry¹.

Annual emissions from the steel industry are estimated as equivalent to 2.6bn metric tonnes per annum (Worldsteel), so BSL’s technology could prevent the emission of up to 390 million tonnes of carbon per annum. This is equivalent to the total annual emissions of South Africa or approximately 1% of global emissions every year..."

These are my caveats/comments :

(1) Sounds too good to be true.

(2) Commercialisation seems to be still 'in process'.

(3) 2m CAPs per day @ 24 hours x 350 days = only 16,800 tons pa....enough for testing, but hardly commercial YET (same issue as FMG/BaoWu hydrogen prototype 2,500 tons p.a.).

(4) OTOH (a) the prize is ginormous; (b) PSEI (who introduced PSEI to BSL?) and Mitsui have bought into the concept as BSL shareholders, as has (more recently, as 'commercialisation funder' ) Mineral Resources Limited*

* since fallen on hard times. But -to paraphrase another Australian miner - 'MinRes has the shares, but BSL has the cash.'

IF, maybe still big IF, it works, this technology - and ZIOC's fortunes with it - could be transformative.

Just think of the ESG backing, for instance....

PS I'd still like to know who's behind largest BSL shareholder, Bermuda-based Concord Atlantic Holding , with ca. 25%.

GLA and ATB

And a big plug in the press (again) for the March 25/26 Investment Forum

https://congoenergyinvestment.com/

..' The event will shine a spotlight on latest developments in gas powered electricity and provide an update on the expansionS in progress around the country.."

I wonder what those might be?

GLA