Globe Metals & Mining - Uran, Niob, Tantal, Zirkon - Fakten (Seite 102)

[Reiners]

China opens rare earth doors for Globe

Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Lauren Barrett

WHILE developing rare earth projects can present challenges, Globe Metals & Mining has formed a strategy aimed at helping it succeed where its counterparts have struggled.

The Africa-focused junior exploration company, previously a heavily uranium-focused company, is well on its way to making the transition into a producer via its multi-commodity Kanyika niobium project in Malawi.

With production of ferro-niobium tipped to kick off from Kanyika in 2015, Globe is already well positioned to take a front seat among the major producers of this specialty commodity.

With five separate projects in two different countries, Globe is also turning heads with one of its other up-and-coming projects, the Mount Muambe project in Mozambique.

Located less than 50km from the mining development hub of the Tete province, the fluorite/heavy rare earth project is emerging as the next major development for Globe.

Globe recently secured a 70% stake in the project after delivering a maiden resource.

The maiden resource estimate of 1.6 million tonnes at 19% fluorite containing 310 thousand tonnes of fluorite at a 10% cut-off was determined by mining consultants Quantitative Group and was based on results from 71 reverse circulation drill holes for 5286m.

Last week, Globe released more encouraging result from Mt Muambe, with drill results identifying thee known zones of rare earth mineralisation, all of them remaining open in most directions laterally.

The results included 96m at 2.2% of total rare earth oxide including 18m at 4.1% of TREO and 76m grading 2.2% of TREO including 24m at 3.2% of TREO.

The latest drilling results mark the first set of results from the first four holes of the 2012 drilling campaign at Mt Muambe.

While drilling at the project to date is still in its initial stages, Globe said a drilling program would continue throughout the end of 2012.

Globe non-executive director Julian Stephens told a lunch in Perth last week that the latest drilling results proved Mt Muambe could be a serious asset.

“We have shown these large widths of rare earth mineralisation, which give us a large rare earth resource plus fluorite resource at Mount Muambe,” he said.

“We are really excited about the resource potential of this project.”

Stephens said the location of the project in relation to infrastructure “couldn’t be better.”
With a power line located about 3km away from the project and rail infrastructure within 25km of the project, Globe is well placed to leverage of the well-established infrastructure already in placed.

With encouraging resource potential at Mt Muambe now proven, Globe expects to release an initial resource for the project by the end of this year or early 2013, with a scoping study to follow.

The completion of a scoping study would give Globe an 80% stake in project under the joint venture agreement with Bala Usokoti.

Not content with a positive flow sheet and a soon to be defined resource at Mt Muambe, Globe knows the importance of securing a customer for the dual-commodity project.

With China already consuming about 70% of rare earths, Globe is eyeing off the powerhouse as its number one export destination.

Stephens said it was important “to have a China strategy,” so it didn’t make the same mistakes plaguing other prospective rare earth players, such as the once troubled Arafura Resources, which had attempted to go it alone on the development of its Nolans rare earth project in the Northern Territory.

Arafura faced a publicised stream of difficulties getting Nolans off the ground, including issues raising cash in the market coupled with the decision to dump half its board to conserve cash.

Globe is keen to avoid repeating the issues experienced by Arafura by tapping into the Chinese market.

Globe is already well placed to leverage off heavy Chinese interest in rare earths after securing major investor East China Minerals Exploration and Development Bureau (ECE) in April last year.

ECE is a large state-controlled enterprise with gold and base metals mines and refineries in China.

It received approval from regulatory authorities and Globe shareholders to obtain a 53.86% stake in the company by purchasing shares at 40.5c each.

While ECE as a major shareholder proved to be most advantageous for Kanyika funding, the strategic partnership is also a shining light for the material development of Mt Muambe.

Stephens said ECE was essentially “our vehicle into Asian capital and potential offtake partners,” for Mt Muambe, with ECE acting as a facilitator for Globe’s entry into China.

Stephens said a partner of some sort for Mt Muambe would not only bring down costs of development but would slash the amount of time needed to get the project into the production stages.
Stephens said Globe had already touched base with potential partners looking at partnering up for Mt Muambe’s development and with the intention of attending a rare earth conference in Shanghai this week, more discussions could be on the cards.

It’s an exciting time on the development from for Globe, while timely developments on the corporate side are also taking shape.

With Mt Muambe on the verge of becoming a sizeable asset, Globe recently announced its intention to split Globe up into two separate entities.

This would involve spinning out all of its exploration assets aside from the Kanyika project into a separate vehicle, thus creating a separate niobium focused and rare earth focused company.

The main driver behind this move was to generate fresh market interest while also generating extra value for its exploration assets so it no longer had to solely trade around cash backing.

The move would also simplify Globe’s portfolio and would provide funding to advance development of Mt Muambe.

The spin-off plans, aimed to be carried out by the end of 2012, are subject to board, shareholder and government approvals; however Stephens said the move would be put on the backburner if Europe “explodes”.

Post listing of the new entity, Globe will attempt a dual listing on the TSX.

With cash reserves currently standing at around $A36 million and continued exploration at its flagship assets coming to fruition, the remaining half of 2012 will surely be a busy time for Globe.

Meanwhile, keeping tabs on Mt Muambe’s development could also have its rewards after Globe managing director Mark Sumich said the project was now “beginning to shine as one of the best rare earth projects in Africa.”

[Reiners]

Es stehen ja auch wieder ein paaar Events an (2 im Juni)



China International Rare Earth Summit
Shanghai
11/06/2012


Investing in Africa - Networking WA
Perth
20/06/2012


Diggers and Dealers
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
01/08/2012


Africa Down Under
Perth
29/08/2012

[saltamonte]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 43.258.540 von Reiners am 07.06.12 07:12:58

Passend dazu die Meldung von Globe vom 25.5.2012, die hier noch nicht gepostet wurde

ja, das passt tatsächlich zum kursverlauf... sind wieder mal 1,1mio shares die vermutlich kurzfristig in geld getauscht werden wollen. wurde aber damals im okt. 2009 so vereinbart.

[Reiners]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 43.258.501 von power_48 am 07.06.12 05:58:06

Mount Muambe is now really beginning to shine as one of the best REE projects in Africa. The grades encountered so far and the very wide intercepts show the potential for a considerable resource which we plan to report in early 2013.”


Vor 1 3/4 Jahren wäre der Kurs durch die Decke gegangen, bei dieser Meldung.

...............

Passend dazu die Meldung von Globe vom 25.5.2012, die hier noch nicht gepostet wurde.

Globe achieves 70% project milestone at Mount Muambe

http://www.stocknessmonster.com/news-item?S=GBE&E=ASX&N=5911…

[power_48]

Excellent Further REE Drill Results - Mount Muambe

http://stocknessmonster.com/stock-quote?S=GBE&E=ASX

Excellent further REE drill results – Mount Muambe
Globe Metals & Mining (“Globe” or “the Company”; ASX: GBE) is pleased to report that initial 2012 drilling has intersected exceptional widths of rare earth and fluorite mineralisation at the Mount Muambe REE – Fluorite Project in Mozambique.
Comment
Globe’s Managing Director, Mr. Mark Sumich, commented, “these first four priority holes for 2012 have met our expectations, and we are keen to begin infill and step-out drilling in these areas. Mount Muambe is now really beginning to shine as one of the best REE projects in Africa. The grades encountered so far and the very wide intercepts show the potential for a considerable resource which we plan to report in early 2013.”
Highlights
•Extensive intercepts of >2% TREO mineralisation including significant intercepts of > 3% and 4% TREO mineralisation (+4% TREO intersections confirmed in two zones – AA and DD)
•Extensive intercepts of fluorite intersected in numerous zones
•Potential for large tonnage TREO and fluorite resource – due early 2013
•Results include:
o96m @ 2.2% TREO inc. 18m @ 4.1% TREO (from 32m; Zone AA)
o76m @ 2.2% TREO inc. 24m @ 3.2% TREO (from 36m; Zone BB)
o46m @ 18.3% CaF2 inc. 12m @ 21.8% CaF2 (from 64m; Zone BB)
o110m @ 14.3% CaF2 (from 34m; Zone BB)
•2012 drilling to date – 23 RC holes for 2,221m (4 holes for 637m reported here); drilling to continue during the remainder of 2012

[Reiners]

Niobiumbedarf scheint da zu sein.


Niobec to triple output

$1-billion investment will enhance Quebec company’s ability to meet demand

By ROBERT GIBBENS, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE May 30, 2012


MONTREAL - Niobium, a metal mined in Quebec’s Saguenay region and sold worldwide to make steel stronger and lighter, is dancing with the dragon.

High-strength steel’s biggest user is the auto industry and China is already the largest steel user and producer and will soon dominate global car assembly.

The Niobec mine and processing plants, which produce the final niobium alloy for export worldwide via Montreal, is located only 25 kilometres north of Saguenay (formerly Chicoutimi) and Alcan’s massive aluminum smelters. Last year, total output was 4.6 million kilograms of ferroniobium alloy – the powdery stuff fed directly into the steel furnaces.

And because of growth in high-strength steel demand from the booming economies of China, India and other parts of Asia, Niobec’s ferroniobium capacity is going to triple to about 13.5 million kilograms with an investment of $1 billion or more. Known reserves would still give Niobec a 46-year life.

Niobium doesn’t have the glitter of gold or diamonds, says Iamgold Corp., which inherited Niobec and key Quebec gold mining assets with its $518-million takeover of Quebec-based Cambior Inc. in 2006. But it has been a steady profit maker and job provider for 36 years.

It contributes $75 million to $90 million of annual cash flow to the parent and there’s only one larger producer – in Brazil. Iamgold has been mopping up much of the growth in world demand.

Iamgold ranks as an intermediate gold producer with operations in the Americas and Africa, and has been under pressure from some big shareholders to sell part or all of Niobec and focus solely on gold.

But CEO Steve Letwin seems reluctant to classify Niobec as non-core and is pursuing the $1-billion expansion (due on stream in phases from 2016) while saying he’d probably accept if someone came along with a $1.5-billion bid. Or he’d take in a partner or make a second try at an initial public offering.

The final decision on the capacity expansion will come in a year or so with delivery of the full feasibility study, said Bob Tait, vice-president of investor relations.

Iamgold recently reported a find of top-value “light” rare earth minerals in Niobec’s backyard. Rare earths go into smartphones, e-cars and many other items of the digital age, but are difficult and expensive to extract.

Industry numbers tell the story of niobium’s growth: From 1993 through 2002, global consumption grew at an average eight per cent annually, and since then at 20 per cent – mostly from China. The metal’s price is about $40 per kilogram.

“Niobec has been a great story and its growth prospects are strong,” said Louis Gignac, who was CEO of gold producer Cambior at the time of the sale to Iamgold. “As in all mining projects, there may be extra risks and surprises when you triple a mine’s existing capacity.”

Niobec is now an open-pit operation and Iamgold plans to switch to a different “block caving” all-underground extraction system, raising some questions about rock stability, geologists say.

The crushing and milling technology are standard, they say. The plant that converts niobium into ferroniobium for the blast furnace requires a mix of aluminum, iron oxide and other ingredients, along with high temperatures. About 85 per cent of the process water is recycled.

The industry estimates $9 of niobium used in a car built with high-strength steel will provide a weight saving of 100 kilograms and a five-per-cent gain in fuel efficiency. High-strength steel is also used in heavy construction such as the bridge between Denmark and Sweden.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Niobec+triple+output…

[Lenardo]

Buy-Back – FIRB Approval

http://hotcopper.com.au/announcements.asp?id=434480

[sliceanddice]

Wäre es möglich, dass sich Globe mit dem Listing an der TSX statt an der ASX ein Stück weit (oder sogar ganz?) dem Votum der leicht paranoiden FIRB entzieht? Spätestens wenn dann auch noch der Firmensitz offiziell nach Kanada verlegt wird, sollte die FIRB für Globe Geschichte sein. Mit ECE als Partner im Rücken würde ein solcher Schritt absolut Sinn machen. Wie soll denn die nächste Kapitalerhöhung funktionieren, wenn andauernd die FIRB gefragt werden muss und nur ECE bereit ist, in Globe in nennenswertem Umfang zusätzliches Geld rein zu pumpen?

Slice

[saltamonte]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 43.194.544 von Reiners am 22.05.12 06:54:01

globe hat bereits vor geraumer zeit die unternehmensbereiche in tochtergesellschaften organisiert. zumindest im "annual 2011" steht schon...

...
Globe Metals & Mining Limited has provided an unsecured, interest bearing loan to its wholly owned subsidiary, Globe
Metals & Mining (Africa)

...
Globe Metals & Mining Limited has provided an unsecured, interest bearing loan to its wholly owned subsidiary, Globe
Metals & Mining (Exploration) Limited
...


d.h. intern kann man das sehr wohl (billig) strukturieren um eine saubere trennung der projekte hinzubekommen bzw. ein kanyika offtake ohne nebengeräusche.

[Reiners]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 43.194.521 von saltamonte am 22.05.12 06:35:58

Von Hotcopper. Der Fettgedruckte Bereich könnte der Grund sein für den Asset-Split

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I think it is a good move.

Many Australian companies have done the same. Often Australian resource juniors who have projects overseas are little understood by the Australian market. The same can be said for various types of commodities. Australians know iron ore, coal, gold, copper, nickel. They tend not to value other commodities - silver, PGMs, specialty metals etc. Other markets such as the TSX and the AIM have a greater interest in assets in Africa, Latin America and other regions.

And if GBE is able to extract value from their exploration assets by floating them on the TSX (so, partly monetizing them), then that has to be good for GBE shareholders. Currently, our market values these assets at less than zero, and even values Kanyika at less than zero. (I suspect by the time of the listing, there will be more significant intercepts from Mount Muambe - they seem very bullish about it, and with good reason).

And as for Kanyika - if they need to streamline the structure of assets to bring in a Chinese offtake partner/financier, then that makes good sense. Chinese steel mills will want the niobium, not the rare earths. (and that is not an indictment on the value of Mount Muambe and other prospects, simply a question of what business they are in).

It says to me that GBE's board is looking at ALL alternatives to try to maximise shareholder value in what is a poor market. My only hope is that the market conditions are good enough for a new listing when the time comes!)