RE: Persistent seller - FIDELITY!30 Aug 2024 10:31
Charles Archer's latest take after the interview.
I directly asked about shareholder returns in the interview, and the general takeaway was that the priority order is to:
1. Secure raw copper supply
2. Upgrade Roan further
3. Purchase additional processing power (I suggested Chambishi and Leon agreed synergies there)
From Leon's perspective (and I concur), now JLP has demonstrated that low grade material can be economically processed, multiple operators are going to try to elbow their way in - so securing supply as fast as possible is business critical. This is especially true because at present, only JLP has the capacity to process low grade ore, so sellers have only one buyer - and will take payment in shares. I suspect you will see dilution, but to buy up more assets, so will be worthwhile.
Something major I touched on is Konkola, the IRH waste copper project is adjacent to the Konkola project (largest in Zambia and just retaken by Vedanta), so strongly suspect a deal is in the making there as needs $1 billion in investment and has a major problem with tailings that JLP can help out with. I also think Anglo may be coming to help out too, so could get very interesting very quickly.