Member Info for Lindon

11 May, 2020
https://www.vanadiumprice.com/voltstorage-enlarges-technical-service-team/

With the VoltStorage SMART energy storage system based on the eco-friendly Vanadium Redox Flow technology, VoltStorage plans to become the world’s leading company for Redox Flow energy storage solutions by the end of the year. In order to reach this goal, VoltStorage has continuously expanded its series production since the beginning of the year and increased its staff number in the areas of quality assurance, production and research. VoltStorage is now expanding its technical service team with product specialists to further increase the number of product and installation trainings for VoltStorage partners.

With the product specialists Stefan Christof, Peter Kanzler and Simon Wieser, VoltStorage relies on a well-functioning team that has already worked together before VoltStorage. At VoltStorage, the technical service team is responsible for the installation and setup of the energy storage systems and the product and installation training of installation partners in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “Due to the high demand for our eco-friendly energy storage solution, the expansion of our technical service team was very important. As a result, we are now in a position to install a large number of the systems already ordered in the upcoming months“, explains Head of Sales, Christian Seidemann, who is also responsible for the technical service team at VoltStorage.

Since last year VoltStorage has intensified its training and certification activities for installation partners. The goal is to continuously expand the network of sales and installation partners in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to even better meet the constantly increasing customer demand for eco-friendly energy storage solutions. „In terms of product and installation training, we clearly stand out from other storage providers. Instead of theoretical trainings with large numbers of participants in conference rooms, we rely on individual practical trainings. This means that our technical service employees are on site as part of the reference installation and carry out the installation together with the installation partner“, explains Jakob Bitner, CEO & Co-Founder of VoltStorage. By expanding its technical service team, VoltStorage is now able to further increase the number of certified sales and installation partners.

vouch... “we have added another plant with 4 kilns”.
Well actually it’s another plant with 3 kilns, but two are currently useless. Also ... “ a total of around R85 million as critical capital spend is required for 2020 to enable Vanchem to continue to operate sustainably”.

Mon, 4th May 2020 07:00
RNS Number : 7416L
Bushveld Minerals Limited

Not sure if this in fact a new battery... but Monash uni has been use ing a Redt supplied VRFB for several-years...’it may be the case that it’s only the mini-grid buildings proposal that is ‘new’ and is intended to connect to that existing VFFB.

* sorry for the predictive txt... Spedders

Spenders... the 15,000 is the amount of V in the electrolyte, which at a ratio of 5,000t per GW is correct... but V makes up only around 8% of the total electrolyte mass... which I think you’ll find is what the China number is referring to.

Bushveld Minerals, one of the world’s important sources of vanadium, stepped up production of the mineral used to make steel, chemical products and batteries, but it has slowed work on developing a new mine in SA.

06 May, 2020
https://www.vanadiumprice.com/bushveld-upbeat-over-global-vanadium-market-despite-covid-19-pandemic/

Bushveld, which is traded on London’s Alternative Investment Market, has all its operations in SA, including two large processing plants, Vametco and Vanchem. These plants are among just four primary vanadium processing plants in the world.

“While Bushveld Vanadium was initially operating at the run rate required to meet its 2020 guidance at Vametco and Vanchem, this was interrupted when the SA government issued a directive … for a 21-days’ nationwide lockdown,” CEO Fortune Mojapelo said.

Bushveld has intentions of growing output to 8,400 tonnes of vanadium a year, which will make it one of the senior suppliers of the mineral. Those plans have been delayed by SA’s lockdown that started on March 27 to curtail the spread of Covid-19. After a first period, the government then allowed mining companies to operate at 50% of capacity from April 18, with further easing expected over time.

Bushveld used the first lockdown period to complete maintenance scheduled for the second quarter of the year at Vametco, leaving the mine and processing plant free of planned stoppages for the remainder of 2020, Mojapelo said.

Vametco sold 898 tonnes of vanadium in the first quarter, a 77% increase year on year. Prices, however, were about two-thirds lower over the same period for vanadium sold to European and US customers. For Asian clients, prices fell 56%. Vanadium prices for the three regions traded in an average range of $24/kg-$27/kg.

The vanadium prices remained resilient in all regions despite the impact of Covid-19. China’s processing and manufacturing index indicated improved rebar production and demand driven by the restart in the construction sector,” Mojapelo said. Rebar is a form of steel used to reinforce concrete structures during building activities.

“We are encouraged to see China has remained a net importer of vanadium even during March. We expect vanadium demand to remain robust,” he said. Bushveld prioritised customers in China and the US and it was able to continue sending vanadium to those countries but at reduced frequencies. China is the world’s largest steelmaker.

The cost of production at Vametco was $19/kg, keeping a profit margin intact for the company. Vanchem, which Bushveld bought last November, was hit by 10 days of load-shedding and the start of the lockdown. Its sales of 182 tonnes made up a third of Bushveld’s sales. An R85m programme to refurbish the Vanchem plant will be carried out during the second half of 2020 because the expenditure is regarded as “critical”. Bushveld has liquidity of $34m........

Despite he recent rise in V prices they are still at very low levels and sales of the recently reported landings will have been made well before the recently reported price increases.

But imo the main driver of the current sp malaise is that despite all the promises and hopes that electrolyte leasing contracts would lead to VRFB’s taking off... they still have to that.

There has been not one single example of a leasing deal being made, anywhere around the globe, despite all the huge renewable stored energy schemes that are being reported on, ongoing or being planned, at anytime in the last year since their leasing options became available.

All sorts of ‘noise’ and reasons for the low sp have been advanced... but the silence about the failure to attract new electrolyte sales or leases has really been quite deafening.

I believe that is behind why the market is keeping the sp where it is... and around these levels is where it will stay, unless and until they can prove that their business plan for electrolyte sales/leases is actually gaining some traction in the stored energy market.

It’s not important or matters much which market/s they are listed on... and they don’t need an electrolyte plant built in order to supply V for conversion to electrolyte, they don’t even need to have a share in the VRFB that the electrolyte gets poured into... but they do need to start providing proof with signed contracts on the table that there Is market for leasing the stuff out there... the share market jury in general and any prospective large new buyers will remain very cautious until they do... and that in turn provides the space and impetus for the bears to keep mauling. Folk want Fortune to take action to protect the sp. Being able to announce some new supply sales for electrolyte contracts would do exactly that.

Thanks for that FB.
BigBaggerHungry... most companies don’t advertise their audited results date because they are in the hands of their auditors. Obviously it’s only when that process is completed that they can publish... so I wouldn't hold out much hope you’ll get a date.

Most main bourse companies DO give a months prior warning even though they have only 3 months to get their results out rather than 6.... some also notify they are entering into a months close period ahead of the results publication and quite often also give a ‘not less than’ indication of what to expect in the upcoming financial statement for the year.

If BM ever have any pretensions of moving to the main market I’m afraid they will have to seriously think of upping their corporate responsibilities game first ... even by AIM standards they are very poorly run in the investor relations department.

Imo it also doesn't help market sentiment and confidence in BM’s story that Fortune has a compromised and very lax tame nomad tucked into his back pocket!

A more strict nomad , and there are some about, would ensure they stuck to much higher standards of reporting and wouldn't hesitate to sort them out... and that in turn would make a considerable difference to market belief!

Yes DBB but these are Jolt Energy’s so- called Organic Flow Batteries... not VRFB’s.

BigBaggerHungry... Aim companies have 6 months from the end of the their reporting period to publish audited results and can do so at a time in that period.
For BMN’s 2019 yr... the last allowable date is 30/6/20.
They are not legally obliged to publicise the actual intended date in advance of publication, although many others do.

Institutions that own BMN
Name Shares Held % Shares Out Change In Shares % of Assets As of Date
Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management Ltd. 187,606,809 16.77% +60,809,396 0.65% 12/31/18
AJ Bell Asset Management Ltd. 36,135,984 3.23% +36,135,984 1.81% 12/31/18
Invesco Asset Management Ltd. 26,134,766 2.34% +1,639,884 0.01% 08/31/19
Invesco Advisers, Inc. 7,100,000 0.63% +3,800,000 0.00% 09/30/19
Van Eck Associates Corp. 4,064,471 0.36% 0 0.00% 10/04/19
Hargreave Hale Ltd. 3,131,529 0.28% -466,655 0.01% 03/29/19
BBVA Asset Management SA SGIIC 1,199,028 0.11% +966 0.00% 09/30/19
Sutterlüty Investment Management GmbH 400,000 0.04% +400,000 0.56% 01/31/19
Marmite Capital AG 400,000 0.04% 0 3.93% 09/27/19
Toroso Investments LLC 309,677 0.0
Mutual Funds that own BMN
Name Shares Held % Shares Out Change In Shares % of Assets As of Date
Keystone Investment Trust Plc 15,655,913 1.40% +429,201 1.25% 08/31/19
7,100,000 0.63% +3,800,000 0.16% 09/30/19
Invesco Pensions UK Equity Fund 6,859,503 0.61% +1,116,159 1.22% 06/28/19
Market Vectors - Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF 4,064,471 0.36% 0 0.59% 10/04/19
Invesco Perpetual Select Trust Plc - UK Equities 3,619,350 0.32% +94,524 1.27% 08/31/19
3,131,529 0.28% -466,655 0.35% 03/29/19
Vifag 2002, SICAV 1,199,028 0.11% +966 0.70% 09/30/19
Sunares - Sustainable Natural Resources 400,000 0.04% +400,000 0.56% 01/31/19
Marmite Exploration & Mining Invest 400,000 0.04

“What is going to turn this around” ? Less talk of future potential and signed and sealed leasing deal contracts placed on the table proving that VRFB’s have broken into some of the massive storage energy projects that are currently in progress all over the globe... would be a great start.

If the upcoming update is a story of more exciting future potential... it won’t impress the market.

SIPPmeister... I haven’t a clue if its even possible or if a much earlier timing is cost effective for it to brought forward to a much earlier date.

The type of maintenance/refurbishment operations that happens on scheduled/pre-planned shutdown might not necessarily be any advantage if brought forward.
If it WAS possible and operationally advantageous to bring forward that type of work ... and if it doesn’t require additional specialist ‘outside contractors ’ to be brought in... and if it was allowed under the lockdown rules... then obviously they won’t have hesitated to have taken advantage of the situation. Hope that might be the case... we shall have to wait and see.

The last RNS stated that the mining operations had been stopped and put into care and maintenance.

Any reopening (once it has happened) no- matter if partial or full, means the market has to updated at the earliest opportunity in order to comply with the disclosure rules, news of that importance is not allowed to be delayed.

Until that happens the mine remains in care and maintenance.

It maybe they cannot currently update the market until they know the induction processes have been satisfactorily completed and are in a better position to confirm they have sufficient numbers of staff reporting back in and that will allow them to resume the mining and processing operations in some fashion soon.

Apr 28, 2020
The World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund recently convened African leaders, bilateral partners, and multilateral institutions to spur faster action on COVID-19 response in African countries.

https://www.esi-africa.com/industry-sectors/finance-and-policy/world-bank-and-imf-help-to-soften-the-blow-of-covid-19-in-africa/

South African Cyril Ramaphosa, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Director General of the WHO Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Africa Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, and officials of individual countries outlined their policy plans for effective use of resources. Multilateral organizations including the United Nations pledged their continued support, and bilateral partners reemphasised their commitment to a debt standstill beginning May 1, 2020.

This comes in response to calls from the World Bank Group President Malpass, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Georgieva, and other partners for creditors to suspend debt repayments in order to provide much-needed support to the poorest countries. “This pandemic has already had a devastating impact on Africa and its effects will deepen as the rate of infection rises. It is a setback for the progress we have made to eradicate poverty, inequality and underdevelopment,” African Union Chairperson and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa said. “While recent announcements from international partners are very welcome, large financing gaps remain and greater support is needed to ensure that African countries are able to respond effectively to the health crisis and address economic challenges.”.........

Apr 22, 2020
Advancing the renewables-based energy transformation is an opportunity to meet international climate goals while boosting economic growth, creating millions of jobs and improving human welfare by 2050. These are the findings of the first Global Renewables Outlook released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) this week.

https://www.esi-africa.com/industry-sectors/renewable-energy/irena-report-identifies-opportunities-for-energy-transformation-2050/

IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera said: “Governments are facing a difficult task of bringing the health emergency under control while introducing major stimulus and recovery measures. The crisis has exposed deeply embedded vulnerabilities of the current system. IRENA’s Outlook shows the ways to build more sustainable, equitable and resilient economies by aligning short-term recovery efforts with the medium-and long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.

“By accelerating renewables and making the energy transition an integral part of the wider recovery, governments can achieve multiple economic and social objectives in the pursuit of a resilient future that leaves nobody behind.”......

Apr 29, 2020
The International Hydropower Association (IHA) has teamed up with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and more than 100 renewable energy organisations to issue a joint call for action urging policy-makers to prioritise renewable solutions as part of their COVID-19 recovery plans.

https://www.esi-africa.com/industry-sectors/renewable-energy/call-for-renewable-solutions-to-be-part-of-covid-19-recovery-plans/

The recommendations cover a range of priority actions to ensure a rapid and sustained economic recovery, promoting renewable solutions as well as the need for market and policy frameworks that support storage and flexibility – services which are provided by sustainable hydropower.

The call for action says: “To provide long-term policy certainty in this time of crisis, governments must consider affirming existing and planned support schemes, as well as continuing to implement appropriate market and policy frameworks that support grid development, storage and flexibility, and other infrastructure critical to support a higher penetration of renewable energy.

“Permitting and siting approvals should be fast-tracked so that the renewable energy industry can plan ahead and protect its workforce.”..........

Seeing though its rather close to ‘home’ It’s surprising and disappointing they didn’t get this contract for their batteries.

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pge-proposes-lithium-ion-battery-projects-to-replace-oakland-fossil-fuel-p/576202/

The market needs the impetus of hearing about VRRB’s involvement in these sorts of schemes and projects... which are currently going on all over the globe.

BMN have reached the point where they need at least to show their electrolyte leasing plans are gaining some traction. Interest and pipelines are one thing... winning some contracts is quite another. It’s been awhile now since the leasing opportunities were introduced to the market.

Full Year 2019 and Q4 2019 Operational Update
Thu, 30th Jan 2020 09:17

RNS Number : 4243B
Bushveld Minerals Limited
30 January 2020