Palladium price peaks at new record high, rhodium roaring
Palladium hit a fresh all-time high on Friday on persistent worries about supply from South Africa and prospects of a pickup in demand in China.
Nymex Palladium futures gained 1.5% to $1,636.60 an ounce in New York in morning trading before easing back. Palladium’s gains for the year now top 40% or $477 per ounce.
Palladium hit a fresh all-time high on Friday on persistent worries
about supply from South Africa and prospects of a pickup in demand in
China.
Nymex Palladium futures gained 1.5% to $1,636.60 an ounce in New York
in morning trading before easing back. Palladium’s gains for the year
now top 40% or $477 per ounce.
The threat of labour unrest in South Africa, which together with
Russia are responsible for more than 80% of global platinum group metal
output, loomed large again on Friday after the militant union Amcu
re-elected its firebrand leader.
Amcu rose to prominence in 2012 when clashes between police and
striking workers at the Marikana mine in the African nation’s prolific
platinum belt left 34 dead.
Any signs of stimulus from the Chinese auto market could lead to additional upside price potential.
BMO Capital Markets
More than three-quarters of palladium ends up in catalytic converters
for gasoline engines and the rise in the precious metal comes despite a
severe slowdown in vehicle sales around the world.
Top consumer China has seen sales drop for 14 out of the last 15
months, and in August 9.9% fewer cars and truck rolled off lots compared
to last year. Annual sales in the world’s no 2 market – the US – are
also expected to come in below 2018’s total.
What has lifted palladium is greater average loadings per vehicle as
more stringent emissions standards are implemented in China and Europe.
BMO Capital Markets in a recent note said “any signs of stimulus from
the Chinese auto market could lead to additional upside price
potential.â€
Robust rhodium
Sister metal rhodium is also on a roll, more than doubling in price
so far this year. Rhodium, also used mainly in autocatalysts, exchanged
hands at $5,400 an ounce on Friday in New York, the highest in 11 years.
Due to rarity, the small size of the market and concentrated supply, prices are typically volatile.
Rhodium (and sister metal ruthenium) stand out when it comes to price
swings – rhodium touched $10,025 an ounce just before the 2008
financial crisis hit, but would drop 90% before the end of that
tumultuous year.
Platinum was trading flat on Friday at $945.10 after briefly scaling
$1,000 an ounce two weeks ago. Given the historically weak price, some
investors are using the opportunity to stock up on the metal.
ETF holdings of platinum have expanded rapidly this year, reaching 3.3m ounces last week, up 38% or 916,000 ounces in 2019.
In contrast, palladium ETF vaults have been emptying as investors
lock in some of the gains. Palladium-backed ETF holdings total 655,000
ounces, down 120,000 ounces year to date.
Developing, in collaboration with industry leader PyroGenesis (TSX-V: PYR) the innovative PUREVAPTM “Quartz Reduction Reactorsâ€, will permit the transformation and purification of quartz (SiO2) into Metallurgical Grade Silicon (Mg-Si) at prices that will propagate its significant renewable energy potential.
Also working with industry leader Apollon Solar to develop a metallurgical pathway of producing Solar Grade Silicon Metal (SoG Si) that will take full advantage of the PUREVAPTM QRR one-step production of high purity silicon (Si) and significantly reduce the Capex and Opex associated with the transformation of quartz (SiO2) into SoG-Si.
Focused on becoming the lowest cost producer of Silicon (Si), High Purity Silicon (Si) and Solar Grade Silicon Metal (SoG-Si). The pilot plant equipment that will validate the commercial potential of the process is on schedule to start in 2019.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:36 PM on Friday, September 20th, 2019
SPONSOR: Tartisan Nickel (TN:CSE)
Kenbridge Property has a measured and indicated resource of 7.14
million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33% copper. Tartisan also has
interests in Peru, including a 20 percent equity stake in Eloro
Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria property. Click her for more information
Nickel climbs as stainless steel producers prepare for Indonesia ban
Nickel prices climbed on Friday as stainless steel producers bought supplies ahead of a Chinese holiday and an Indonesian nickel ore export ban that could create shortages.
Top supplier Indonesia’s plan to ban exports of nickel ore has been brought forward by two years to Jan. 1, 2020, and the Philippines, the world’s second-biggest ore producer, could suspend five mining companies at the end of this year.
By: Eric Onstad
LONDON — Nickel prices climbed on Friday as stainless steel producers
bought supplies ahead of a Chinese holiday and an Indonesian nickel ore
export ban that could create shortages.
Top supplier Indonesia’s plan to ban exports of nickel ore has been
brought forward by two years to Jan. 1, 2020, and the Philippines, the
world’s second-biggest ore producer, could suspend five mining companies
at the end of this year.
“There have been some anecdotes of stainless mills restocking nickel
and that has been positive,†said analyst Nicholas Snowdon at Deutsche
Bank in London.
Nickel is mostly used as an alloy in the production of stainless steel.
“Across most sectors, in the week before the Golden Week holiday,
you’ll invariably see a bit of raw material restocking, so we have
elements of that in nickel alongside the broader potential restocking as
we head into the (Indonesia) ban application.â€
China celebrates its National Day Golden Week holiday in early October.
Benchmark nickel on the London Metal Exchange gained 2.6% to $17,725 a
tonne in official open-outcry trading, on track for its biggest one-day
gain in three weeks.
* CHINA RATE CUT: Base metals also gained support from China cutting
its one-year benchmark lending rate for the second month in a row on
Friday.
* NICKEL INVENTORIES: Nickel stocks in warehouses monitored by the
Shanghai Futures Exchange slid 13.6%, weekly data showed on Friday.
* NICKEL SPREAD: The premium of LME cash nickel over the three-month
contract climbed to $150 a tonne, near the recent decade high of $163,
indicating near-term tightness.
* MARKET DEFICIT: The global nickel market deficit widened to 6,700
tonnes in July from a revised 2,700 tonnes in the previous month, the
International Nickel Study Group (INSG) said on Thursday.
* ALUMINIUM OUTPUT: LME aluminum, untraded in official rings, was bid
down 0.6% at $1,790 a tonne after data showed that global primary
aluminum output rose to 5.407 million tonnes in August from a revised
5.404 million tonnes in July.
* COPPER DEMAND: Fitch Solutions cut its average price forecast for
copper to $5,900 a tonne this year and $5,700 in 2020, from previous
views of $6,300 a tonne and $6,600 a tonne respectively.
“A drop in Chinese demand has loosened the global (copper) market, while sentiment continues to worsen,†Fitch said in a note.
LME copper was bid up 0.3% at $5,804 a tonne but remained on course
for a 2.6% drop over the week, which would mark its steepest weekly fall
since the week ended Aug. 2.
* PRICES: LME three-month zinc was bid down 0.2% in official activity
at $2,308 a tonne, lead gained 0.9% to trade at $2,114 and tin slipped
0.3% to trade at $16,400.
* For the top stories in metals and other news, click or (Additional
reporting by Tom Daly in Beijing; editing by David Goodman and Jason
Neely)
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:35 AM on Friday, September 20th, 2019
At 165,000 patients, Empower Clinics (CBDT:CSE) (EPWCF:OTCQB) has a database that almost every medical cannabis and CBD company would kill for. Add in the fact it is now on a ~ $USD 4,000,000 annualized revenue run rate for 2019 and it becomes the kind of company small cap investors have been dying to find as they watch pretender companies melt away.
But it doesn’t end there.
CBD extraction has been a key element of the company’s vertical integration. Producing its’ own CBD products for its own patients just makes sense. Up until a couple of days ago, it was a sound strategy that needed to be executed. As of yesterday, execution arrived thanks to a JV with extraction experts Heritage Cannabis that will light up the Company’s 5,000 sq ft facility in Oregon. Empower brings the infrastructure, Heritage brings the expertise and balance sheet. The result is a match made in shareholder heaven with initial annual capacity of 6,000 Kg at ~ $US 5,000 per Kg, which adds up to $US 30,000,000 in potential revenue.
We emphasize potential because nobody has started selling anything yet and the facility isn’t expected to begin producing for another 3-4 months. However, with a built in patient database and talks already having commenced for white label products, Empower is on its way. Moreover, “potential” cuts both ways, with capacity capable of increasing 2x – 3x without much trouble given the size of the facility.
Can Empower successfully execute its extraction plan? It’s a legitimate question, with a blow away answer..
The Company’s new CEO, Steven McAuley, who replaced the previous management team in January, is Six Sigma certified under the quality initiative of legendary GE chairman Jack Welch. We’ve never seen a Six Sigma certified CEO in the Canadian small cap markets. Never.
Grab your favourite beverage and settle in to watch what may be your next great small cap investment.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:19 PM on Thursday, September 19th, 2019
SPONSOR: Betteru Education Corp.
aims to provide access to quality education from around the world. The
Company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job
industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing
an integrated ecosystem. Click here for more information.
BTRU: TSX-V
Edtech space AttainU raises an undisclosed sum from former head of Google India, others
AttainU, an edtech startup, has raised an undisclosed capital in angel funding from a clutch of investors including Shailesh Rao, former head of Google India.
Bengaluru-based platform said that the raised funding will be used to further strengthen faculty, development of courses, counselling teams, and build a semi-automated platform to cater to the huge inbound student demand AttainU is receiving.
Bengaluru-based platform said that the raised funding will be used to further strengthen faculty, development of courses, counselling teams, and build a semi-automated platform to cater to the huge inbound student demand AttainU is receiving.
Divyam Goel, CEO & Co-founder, AttainU, said, “For us, the goal
has always been about solving higher education in a systematic, scalable
way. From the beginning, we have had a very strong focus on maintaining
our high-quality learning outcomes as we scale. Over the last 10
months, we have been able to figure out many processes, complementing
human psychology, to facilitate deep-rooted learning.â€
AttainU was founded by Divyam Goel and Vaibhav Bajpai
in 2018. It provides live online courses as college alternative to
individuals. Currently, it offers full-time, online seven-month-long
software engineering courses for users.
The startup also provides career counselling as part of their student
assessment process and connects graduates to industry partners for
placement upon completion of the course.
The edtech space aims to serve students who have a college education
but don’t have a job or a satisfactory job and more importantly, don’t
need to have prior coding experience.
The company said its courses are focussed on industry-aligned
practical skills and professionally required life skills and follow a
deferred fee payment model conditional to employment aka Income Share
Agreement (ISA).
“At this point, we are receiving double-digit thousand student
applications every month and are very excited about the scale of impact
we will be able to deliver through our tech-first approach,†Goel added.
Furthermore, according to AttainU, every year approximately nine
million students graduate from colleges, out of which 85 percent don’t
make it to well paying, white collar jobs.
Data states that 50 percent of all BE/Btech graduates and 60 percent
of all MBA (including PG Diploma) graduates are still considered not
employable by tech first organisations, the company added.
Tags: CSE, edtech, india, online education, stocks, tsx, tsx-v Posted in betterU Education Corp | Comments Off on BetterU Education Corp. $BTRU.ca – #Edtech space #AttainU raises an undisclosed sum from former head of #Google #India, others $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:18 PM on Thursday, September 19th, 2019
SPONSOR:ThreeD Capital Inc. (IDK:CSE)
Led by legendary financier, Sheldon Inwentash, ThreeD is a
Canadian-based venture capital firm that only invests in best of breed
small-cap companies which are both defensible and mass scalable. More
than just lip service, Inwentash has financed many of Canada’s biggest
small-cap exits. Click Here For More Information.
IDK: CSE
CIOs can’t ignore these 5 realities of blockchain
By Rajesh Kandaswamy Gartner, Inc.
What would happen if a car automatically negotiated its own insurance rate, or if centralized banks were no longer necessary to verify payments?
What if neighbors could buy energy directly from each other’s solar panels? What if a contract enforced its own clauses?
These scenarios might seem overly futuristic, but the reality is that blockchain could
make all of them possible. The more important question is how might
these changes affect the enterprise, and how can the organization take
advantage of this technology?
Few enterprises have deployed blockchain, yet it can significantly impact
broad swaths of the business. The low adoption of blockchain
technologies lulls many CIOs into thinking they don’t yet have to take
action, yet the opportunities for blockchain technology are massive.
Only 4 per cent of enterprises expect
that blockchain will be a game-changer for them, according to the 2019
Gartner CIO Survey. Furthermore, only 11 per cent of enterprises have
deployed — or will deploy over the next year — even minimal,
blockchain-inspired technologies. CIOs
need to start thinking about what value blockchain can add to their
organization and how to tackle its challenges over the next five years.
Reality #1: Blockchain provides a spectrum of opportunities that evolve over time
Blockchain is not a monolithic
technology. The term blockchain actually encompasses a wide range of
technologies, from smart contracts to tokens to consensus models that
will continuously mature and become available. In turn, CIOs should plan
for incremental evolution of their own blockchain strategies.
Blockchain-enabling:
These are the building blocks of blockchain, including encryption and
consensus algorithm, distributed computing infrastructures, tokens and
others.
Blockchain-inspired: Technologies in this stage combine some elements of blockchain, but lack two core elements: decentralization and tokenization.
Blockchain-complete: These solutions have all five elements of blockchain. They are decentralized, immutable, encrypted, tokenized and distributed.
Blockchain-enhanced:
Alongside the five elements of blockchain, blockchain-enhanced is
combined with technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the
Internet of Things (IoT) for more intelligent solutions.
Reality #2: Blockchain can change your operating model, not necessarily your business model, in the next 5 years
While blockchain will eventually
change the core of a business, in the next five years it will mostly
affect how an organization executes its business. Focusing solely on how
blockchain is being used today (i.e. efficiency and record keeping) is
limiting. CIOs should look for opportunities to leverage blockchain
technology for deeper business changes that can drive real value.
Begin by looking for areas where
blockchain could strengthen the organization’s value proposition, and
propose projects that could truly differentiate the organization. Put
real thought into how this technology could benefit the business, versus
just purchasing a cool “disruptor†venue.
Reality #3: Blockchain offers the ability to create a multi-asset digital economy
It’s time to think creatively about
tokenization and digitally representing assets in the marketplace. For
some organizations this will increase efficiency, and for others, it
will enable entirely new markets. Consider how tokenization would be
helpful in current business operations and in the future, and talk to
ecosystem partners about tokenization’s potential and challenges.
Reality #4: Blockchain enables a new society, but doesn’t solve trust problems at all levels
One of the main elements of
blockchain is decentralization. It removes central authorities from the
process and enables a level of trust between two parties who have never
done business together. This means that the definition of participant
will expand beyond individuals and businesses to include smart
contracts, distributed ledgers, connected things and DAOs.
Blockchain will facilitate the
interactions between all of these participants and enable a new society,
but it cannot solve all trust problems. For example, any goods that are
physical or not completely digital, would gain limited (if any) trust
value. Create a map that highlights potential gaps and weak spots, and
don’t oversell blockchain technologies to executives as a solution to
every problem.
Reality #5: The programmable economy will set the terms of competition in the future
The reality is that blockchain and
its core elements will radically alter not only the business world, but
the world in which businesses exist. Blockchain will allow autonomous
ecommerce and eventually a programmable economy.
A programmable economy results from
applying distributed computational resources, such as blockchain at
scale, in a decentralized manner to support exchanges of monetary and
nonmonetary value between people, organizations and artificial agents
that have a legal standing equivalent to today’s corporations and
individuals. This will eventually evolve into a digital society,
as consumers change behaviors and adopt new practices. Organizations
will need to develop the technology, but also the ethics and practices
to exist in the digital society.
Rajesh Kandaswamy is a Research Vice President and a
Gartner Fellow in Gartner’s Technology and Service Provider research
practice. His responsibilities include helping establish the direction
of research for emerging technologies and industries, as well as
co-leading blockchain research enterprisewide at Gartner. His Gartner
Fellows research is on how technology will radically transform the
concept of an organization.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 11:55 AM on Thursday, September 19th, 2019
SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.
—————————————————–
Marijuana’s Biggest Day of the Year Is 4 Weeks Away
Last year, the marijuana industry made history… many times over.
But nothing took precedence over Canada becoming the first industrialized country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis, with sales commencing on Oct. 17, 2018.
Last year, the marijuana industry made history… many times over.
But nothing took precedence over Canada becoming the first
industrialized country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis,
with sales commencing on Oct. 17, 2018. Even though Canada substantially
trails the U.S. in terms of aggregate annual legal weed sales, it’s
setting an example among industrialized countries that the legalization of marijuana is possible.
Now, the biggest date of 2019 is rapidly approaching. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s Oct. 17, once again.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why Oct. 17 is a big date for the pot industry (again)
Over the past 11 months and change, Canada has allowed for the sale
of dried cannabis flower, cannabis oil, and sublingual sprays.
Meanwhile, edibles, nonalcoholic cannabis-infused beverages, vapes,
concentrates, and topicals, weren’t legal. This sort of two-step
legalization process was done to allow the industry to find its footing,
as well as give regulators time to adjust to cannabis becoming legal
for adult purchase. But on Oct. 17, regulations now governing dried
cannabis will apply to derivative products as well.
However, investors and Canadian consumers should understand that
derivative pot products aren’t going to be showing up in dispensaries on
Oct. 17. Much in the same way that it took dried cannabis flower brands
weeks to begin populating dispensary store shelves, it’ll probably be the same story for derivative products.
Regulatory agency Health Canada has cautioned that derivative supply
won’t hit the market until mid-December, with it taking weeks or months
thereafter for supply to be adequate to meet demand.
This, of course, is really big news for marijuana stocks, because
derivative cannabis products are a considerably higher margin product
for the industry, relative to dried flower. In select U.S. states (ahem,
Oregon), we’ve witnessed the oversupply and commoditization of dried
flower, leading to weaker margins for pot businesses. We’re highly
unlikely to see oversupply and pricing concerns from derivatives anytime
soon.
A point that is sometimes lost on this derivative launch is that
these are products which speak to a younger generation of cannabis
users. Not only are derivatives more attractive in the respect that they
may not need to be smoked, but they’re going to attract potentially
long-term customers to the industry.
Image source: Getty Images.
Growers go all-out for derivative production
Considering the importance of derivatives to cannabis stock margins,
it’s not surprising to find that growers have been laser-focused on
derivative production for a good portion of 2019.
Some growers, such as OrganiGram Holdings (NASDAQ:OGI),
have chosen to set up a variety of in-house derivative options. During
the company’s fiscal third quarter, OrganiGram announced that it’d be
investing 15 million Canadian dollars into a line of fully automated
equipment necessary to produce up to 4 million kilos of chocolate
edibles per year. This coincides with OrganiGram’s 56,000-square-foot phase 5 expansion which, among other things, is targeted at extra space for derivative production and processing.
The company has also developed a nano-emulsification technology
that can speed up the onset of the effects of cannabinoids. This
product will first be introduced as a powder that can be added to
beverages, but OrganiGram is also actively looking for a partner to help
it develop an infused beverage product containing this proprietary
technology.
Cronos Group (NASDAQ:CRON), and its investment partnerAltria,
are also eager to see the green flag wave on derivatives. Cronos
Group’s peak annual output of nearly 120,000 kilos per year may not even
be enough to place this brand-name pot stock among the top-10 growers.
But that’s OK with Cronos, as it’s placed its attention almost entirely
on derivative cannabis products.
For instance, Cronos and Altria will be working together to roll out
an assortment of vape products. Altria is well-versed in the adult
smoking market and should prove helpful in assisting Cronos Group’s
marketing efforts and product launches (regarding vapes). Beyond vaping,
Cronos Group will be leaning on its partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks to
produce targeted cannabinoids at commercial scale, as well as other
third-party extraction service providers.
Image source: Getty Images.
Speaking of extraction services, there may not be a smarter way of
playing the derivatives craze than with third-party extraction
providers. As an example, MediPharm Labs (OTC:MEDIF) only commenced its extraction operations during the fourth quarter. Despite this, MediPharm managed to turn a nominal operating profit
of $0.01 per share in the second quarter. The company’s sales and
profitability are set to soar as growers scramble for derivative
exposure. Yet, MediPharm’s sales and profits should remain highly
predictable with the company locking in contracts for an extended period
of time. Soon enough, the company’s annual extraction capacity will hit
500,000 kilos.
The one thing to remember about the upcoming marijuana derivatives launch
While, on one hand, the launch of derivative products should be lauded by investors, there’s another side to this launch that everyone should be aware of.
As I alluded to earlier, Health Canada has cautioned that alternative
consumption products aren’t going to immediately hit dispensary shelves
once the green flag waves on Oct. 17. Rather, it’s going to take time
before any sort of supply is built up in the marketplace, with a
presumptive two-month gap between when derivative regulations going into
effect and when derivative products will begin showing up in licensed
stores.
But here’s the thing: Product showing up in stores doesn’t mean that
the supply will be sufficient to meet demand. Similar to what we’ve been
witnessing in the dried flower market, supply issues exist that are
likely going to make it difficult for derivative products to find their
way into dispensaries, at least in the early going.
Don’t get me wrong, I expect derivatives to push sales and margins
higher for cannabis stocks across the board. However, I think it’s going
to be multiple quarters before Health Canada resolves a number of
supply issues, resulting in what could be weaker-than-expected sales in
the months to come.
Make no mistake: Derivatives are the future of the cannabis industry. Just understand that the future isn’t going to happen overnight. Give this industry, and the rollout of derivatives, proper time to mature, and you won’t be disappointed.
Here’s The Marijuana Stock You’ve Been Waiting For A
little-known Canadian company just unlocked what some experts think
could be the key to profiting off the coming marijuana boom.
And make no mistake – it is coming.
Cannabis legalization is sweeping over North America – 10 states plus
Washington, D.C., have all legalized recreational marijuana over the
last few years, and full legalization came to Canada in October 2018.
And one under-the-radar Canadian company is poised to explode from this coming marijuana revolution.
Because a game-changing deal just went down between the Ontario
government and this powerhouse company…and you need to hear this story
today if you have even considered investing in pot stocks.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 11:22 AM on Thursday, September 19th, 2019
A look at a mineralized outcrop containing Platinum Group
Metals (PGMs) on the River Valley project site. Metals such as PGMs and
lithium will continue to experience sustained increases in demand as the
global push for sustainability becomes mainstream.
The future of transportation is poised for sustainability
through the global adoption of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and fully
battery electric vehicles (BEVs)
Industry experts are forecasting a consistent increase in demand for lithium, used to develop the batteries in HEVs and BEVs
Industry experts are also forecasting an increase in demand for the Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) used by autocatalyst manufacturers, to ensure compliance with tightening emissions regulations
New Age Metals’ flagship River Valley primary PGM project in
Ontario, and lithium division with assets in Manitoba positions the
company as a key player in the growth of HEVs and lowering CO2 emissions
By: Jason Smith
Harmful carbon dioxide emission levels are rising globally,
largely due to the use of fossil fuels as the primary source of energy
used by the transportation industry. Examples of this use include the powering of jumbo jets, container ships and semi-trucks.
Passenger vehicles also rely on fossil fuels and have a bad reputation
for the amount of pollutants they release into the atmosphere on a daily
basis.
However, passenger vehicles produce more than four times the
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of all domestic aviation, according to
the Globe and Mail. The focus over the last few years has been on making these passenger vehicles
more environmentally-friendly, which is a large reason why automakers
have started producing electric or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
While automakers are being forced by emissions regulation to reduce
their carbon footprint, the majority of consumers are not ready to go
fully electric and are increasingly choosing hybrid vehicles to bridge
the gap with cars that solely use batteries. With more vehicles being
sold worldwide each year, especially those that are less pollutive,
automakers will need more of the critical raw materials used to create
the hybrid and electric vehicles.
This need for less pollutive methods of transportation is where
lithium and palladium enter the picture. Lithium is used to produce
batteries, but the size of car batteries used in HEVs and the increase
in HEV sales that is anticipated by the industry
will require substantially more lithium than what is available in the
market today. Palladium, which is a member of the PGM family, is largely
used to reduce pollution that originates from vehicles operating with
internal combustion engines (ICE) through its use as the primary
‘catalyst’ in catalytic converters (commonly known as auto-catalysts).
While palladium is often overlooked when it comes to the push for
sustainability, it has played a huge role in reducing the amount of
toxic emissions being released into the atmosphere. This positive impact
is most noticeable in urban areas where automobiles are concentrated.
The value of an ounce of palladium has increased exponentially in the
past year, rising 60 per cent year-over-year in Sept. 2019 from under
USD$950 to over USD$1500. The reason for the dramatic price movement is
due to supply concerns and the metals value as the premier option for
use in auto-catalysts.
With ICE-powered vehicles not going away any time soon, the global demand for palladium will endure as a pollution-control
device, and investors are taking notice. Anton Berlin is the head of
strategic marketing at the world’s largest producer of Palladium,
Norilsk Nickel. He recently stated, “Hybrids — cars with both an
electric battery and a combustion engine — will dominate the electric
vehicle market in the long-run, which suggests a long-term advantage for
the PGM market.â€
The extensive infrastructure required to support a universal
transition to EVs still needs time to be completely fleshed out but is
gaining speed. According to a new report entitled, “2019 Investor’s Business Daily/TIPP Electric Vehicle Outlook Study,â€
range and available charging stations are what make potential EV buyers
the most apprehensive, although these are issues that are currently
being addressed.
Regardless, the desire to limit pollution is leading to the growing
demand for middle-ground HEVs, which is causing car manufacturers to
focus on their abilities to design and assemble automobiles that emit
less noxious fumes primarily through the use of palladium and lithium.
Research has shown that hybrid electric vehicles actually require
more palladium and lithium than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles,
so increased adoption of hybrid vehicles will subsequently increase
demand for these metals.Harry Barr, CEO, New Age Metals.
A flagship project in a historic mining district
Anticipating the continued strength in demand for palladium and the general forecast for lithium demand is New Age Metals
(TSX.V: NAM, OTCQB: NMTLF, FSE: P7J), bolstered by the company’s
flagship River Valley project in the Sudbury region of Ontario. The
Sudbury region, known as the mining capital of Canada, is largely
dominated by major mining and processing operations run by Vale and
Glencore.
However, these companies’ operations are facing depleted ores to feed
processing facilities and may need to acquire additional sources to
operate closer to their intended capacity. This is where River Valley
comes in as an integral player, which lies just 100 km from Sudbury and
hosts 2.9 million ounces in the (NI-43 101 compliant) measured and
indicated category of palladium-equivalent (PdEq) resources and 1.1
million ounces in the inferred category.
Diagram of New Age Metals’ current project locations. Supplied
Harry Barr, CEO of New Age Metals, is well aware of the role his company is poised to play as demand for hybrids continually increases.
“Research has shown that hybrid electric vehicles actually require more
palladium and lithium than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, so
increased adoption of hybrid vehicles will subsequently increase demand
for these metals,†he notes. New Age Metals recently had
a preliminary economic assessment completed on River Valley, projecting
a mine with a 14-year lifespan, 6 million tonnes annually of potential
process plant feed at an average grade of 0.88 g/t PdEq and a process
recovery rate of 80 per cent, resulting in an annual average payable
PdEq production of 119,000 ounces.
Barr elaborates, “It’s unique to have a deposit of mineable platinum
group metals in North America, and very unique to have a deposit near so
much processing infrastructure that’s also close to car manufacturers,â€
emphasizing the advantageous position the company finds itself in with
River Valley.
With this in mind, Barr and his team are focused on maximizing this
opportunity to expand the resources at River Valley and develop it to a
point where the project achieves feasibility and is producing. In the
meantime, the project also has tremendous exploration upside and
management plans to continue with an aggressive exploration program. A credible investment alternative to the big PGM players
A key advantage for the River Valley project is its location in a
safe, reliable mining jurisdiction. The majority of the world’s
palladium currently comes from South Africa and Russia,
both of which could be problematic in terms of long-term supply
security, political issues and concerns regarding human rights and
sustainability.
Worth noting is the fact that Norilsk Nickel is not only the worlds’ largest producer of palladium and nickel, but also the largest emitter of sulfur oxides which is a pollutant considered immediately dangerous to life and health.
Fortunately, New Age Metals’ Ontario-based project offers the benefit
of being located in a safe jurisdiction that has excess processing
infrastructure and is known for moderating the environmental impacts from mining and smelting.
Barr explains, “Sudbury’s been a mining center for 120 years, so every
type of mining service is nearby.†Given this unique situation, the
company represents a credible investment opportunity.
Sid Rajeev, vice-president of Fundamental Research Corp., conducted a
thorough analysis of the River Valley PEA. He notes, “Our biggest
takeaway from the PEA was that, at a reasonable palladium price estimate
of USD$1,200 per oz, the study showed an after-tax net present value at
5 per cent of $138 million. New Age Metals’ current enterprise value is
just USD$3 million, implying that shares are trading at just 2 per cent
of net asset value.â€
This level of potential upside is rarely available to the investment
community and as New Age Metals brings River Valley towards
pre-feasibility, it’s unlikely that the company will remain undervalued
for long.
Our biggest takeaway from the PEA was that, at a reasonable
palladium price estimate of USD$1,200 per oz, the study showed an
after-tax net present value at 5 per cent of $138 million. New Age
Metals’ current enterprise value is just USD$3 million, implying that
shares are trading at just 2 per cent of net asset value.Sid Rajeev, vice-president, Fundamental Research Corp.
Having a substantial deposit of PGMs in North America positions New
Age Metals to benefit from the future of sustainability, however there
is a general lack of knowledge about PGMs in North America due to the
low number of primary PGM producers in the arena. The company is in the
process of moving River Valley along the development curve but is also
seeking a qualified partner to assist in further exploration and
development of the project.
New Age Metals’ lithium angle
Adding to the company’s green energy story is its suite of lithium projects in Manitoba. The demand
for this metal is forecasted to increase by 20 per cent per year
through to 2028. With lithium in high demand due to the ever-increasing
growth in the popularity of battery-powered vehicles, these projects
give the company optionality on lithium discovery; two of its eight
projects are currently drill-ready. Plans to drill on the ‘Lithium One’
and ‘Lithium Two’ are in place and company management is anticipating
the initiation of these drill programs in the near future.
The company’s lithium projects are situated along strike of the Tanco
Pegmatite and the claims encompass several pegmatite groups. The
projects are also located 140 km northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The
Tanco mine was owned by the Cabot Corporation who announced in Jan.
2019, that it would be selling the mine to Sinomine Rare Metals Co. Ltd
for USD$130 million. This sale demonstrates a high interest in the
project and potentially the surrounding area, which lends credibility to
New Age Metals’ projects, based on shared geology and proximity.
Exploration on Lithium One is ongoing with concentration of the
northern section, with focus on the Annie and Silverleaf Pegmatites.
Silverleaf Pegmatite has zones of spodumene and lepidolite exposed on
surface with samples up to 4.1 per cent lithium oxide (Li2O). The Annie
Pegmatite returned values up to 0.6 per cent Li2O and 0.37 per cent
Ta2O5.
On Lithium Two, the Eagle Pegmatite is exposed on surface and was
last drilled in 1948, and at the time it was indicated that it remains
open to depth and along strike. A historic tonnage of 544,460 tonnes
of 1.4 per cent Li2O was reported during this year, however the actual
amount has not been confirmed by a qualified person at this time.
An ownership map showing Tanco Mine location proximity to New Age Metals projects. Supplied
With drilling set to begin in Manitoba and River Valley continuing to
move along the development curve, New Age Metals expects to
consistently generate valuable news for investors in the coming months,
keeping the company top-of-mind. Its position in palladium and lithium
provide the company with incredible potential as a high-performing
source for investment as the need for sustainable transportation
continues to be a significant social issue.
To learn more about New Age’s operations and project portfolio, visit them online: newagemetals.com
The following video is a short overview of New Age Metals, and
outlines some of the reasons why the company is an avenue for investment
in the future of sustainability associated with the electrification of
transport
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 7:20 AM on Thursday, September 19th, 2019
Signed Richard Sherman, NFL cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, 4-time Pro Bowl and 2014 Super Bowl Champion, as a global ambassador for the Company’s esports brand, Luminosity Gaming
As a brand ambassador and shareholder of Enthusiast Gaming, Sherman will help support Enthusiast’s growth and success while partnering with the Luminosity brand
TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2019 — Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (“Enthusiast Gaming†or “The Companyâ€) (TSX-V: EGLX) is excited to announce that it has signed Richard Sherman, NFL cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, 4-time Pro Bowl and 2014 Super Bowl Champion, as a global ambassador for the Company’s esports brand, Luminosity Gaming (“Luminosityâ€).
As a brand ambassador and shareholder of Enthusiast Gaming, Sherman
will help support Enthusiast’s growth and success while partnering with
the Luminosity brand. Sherman will attend Luminosity and Enthusiast
Gaming live activations throughout the year, and challenge other NFL
players to team play with the company’s Call of Duty team, which is
based in Seattle, Washington. Sherman’s “player challenge†games will be
streamed publicly across the Luminosity network. Sherman will also
contribute to building out the Company’s professional player roster, as
Captain of Luminosity’s esports organization.
“We are excited to announce this strategic relationship and welcome Richard into the Enthusiast family!†said Steve Maida, President of Luminosity Gaming, Esports Division of Enthusiast Gaming. “As
a globally recognized athlete, and an avid gamer who was featured on
the cover of Madden NFL 15, Richard is a perfect fit for us. With over
50 gaming influencers and esports professional athletes, we are looking
forward to adding a Super Bowl champion to our roster.â€
“Luminosity is one of the most successful esports brands in the
world, and I’m excited to be a part of it! As a brand ambassador and
team captain of Luminosity, I plan to bring my competitive spirit and
love of the game to the esports organization,†said Richard Sherman. “I
am especially eager to challenge some of my NFL rivals and teammates to
join me for online matches, streamed on the Luminosity network for all
our fans to view and enjoy.â€
Sherman was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the
2011 NFL Draft. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times and
voted All-Pro four times, including three times to the first team. He
led the NFL in interceptions in 2013, when he also helped the Seahawks
win their first Super Bowl. Sherman’s favorite video game is Call of
Duty.
About Enthusiast Gaming
Enthusiast Gaming is one of the largest vertically integrated video
game and esports companies in the world. The Company’s digital platform
includes +85 gaming related websites and 900 YouTube channels which
collectively reach 150 million visitors monthly. Enthusiast’s esports
division, Luminosity Gaming, a leading global esports organization
consists of 8 professional esports teams under ownership and management,
including the #1 ranked Overwatch team, the Vancouver Titans and over
50 gaming influencers with a total audience of 60 million followers.
Collectively, the community reaches over 200 million gaming enthusiasts
on a monthly basis. Enthusiast also owns and operates Canada’s largest
gaming expo, Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo, EGLX, (eglx.ca) with approximately 55,000 people attending in 2018. For more information on the Company, visit www.enthusiastgaming.com. For more information on Luminosity Gaming, please visit luminosity.gg.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Investor Relations: Julia Becker Head of Investor Relations & Marketing [email protected] (604) 785.0850
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements.
Forward looking statements consist of statements that are not purely
historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans,
expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results,
performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in
the statements, including risks related to factors beyond the control
of Enthusiast Gaming. The risks include risks that are customary to
transactions of this nature and customary to companies which have their
stock traded on the TSXV. No assurance can be given that any of the
events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if
they do occur, what benefits Enthusiast Gaming will obtain from them.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or
solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United
States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under
the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S.
Securities Actâ€) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or
sold within the United States or to a U.S. Person unless registered
under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an
exemption from such registration is available.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:44 AM on Wednesday, September 18th, 2019
Company has successfully completed the Factory Acceptance Testing witnessed by RISE Energy Technology Center AB (the “Clientâ€) at PyroGenesis’ facility in Montreal,
Received payments totaling €643,196 (approx. Can$936K).
Contract, originally announced last January, is for a 900-kW plasma torch system which was won in a competitive bid announced by the Client.
MONTREAL, Sept. 18, 2019 — PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (http://pyrogenesis.com) (TSX-V: PYR) (OTCQB: PYRNF) (FRA: 8PY), a high-tech company, (the “Company”, the “Corporation†or “PyroGenesis”) that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma atomized metal powder, plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, announced today that, further to previous press releases with respect to the Swedish torch contract  (January 7th, January 17th, and February 21st 2019), the Company has successfully completed the Factory Acceptance Testing (“FATâ€) witnessed by RISE Energy Technology Center AB (the “Clientâ€) at PyroGenesis’ facility in Montreal, and has received payments totaling €643,196 (approx. Can$936K).
This Contract, originally announced last January, is for a 900-kW
plasma torch system which was won in a competitive bid announced by the
Client.
This FAT was held at PyroGenesis’ manufacturing facility where the
Client evaluated the equipment during, and after, the assembly process
by verifying that the torch was manufactured and operated in accordance
with design specifications. After successful testing, the torch was
shipped to Sweden, and is expected to arrive today, September 18th.
PyroGenesis’ team has arrived at the Client’s facility to perform Site
Acceptance Testing (“SATâ€), as well as oversee the installation of the
torch.
“The success of this testing paves the way for a significant business
opportunity for PyroGenesis in developing zero carbon emission
technologies. This torch is being used to address a particular segment
of the Swedish government’s commitment to zero carbon emissions;
specifically, that within the iron ore pelletization industry. The goal
is to replace the traditional diesel burners used in iron ore
pelletization with plasma torches,†said Mr. P. Peter Pascali, President
and CEO of PyroGenesis. “Our plasma torch expertise, which we consider
to be one of the largest, if not the largest, concentration of plasma
expertise under one roof, has enabled us to deliver this high-power
plasma torch (~ 1 MW range) in only 9 months, and to very exacting
design requirements. This contract is aimed at developing fossil-free
energy-mining-iron-steel value chains and thereby provides a basis for
governance and industrial strategies for transformative change across
all of Sweden. We are proud to be playing a significant, and leadership,
role in Sweden’s zero carbon emission policy.â€
Of note,
PyroGenesis’ 900-kW plasma torch is to be used to replace fossil fuel
burners in the iron ore induration (pelletization) process.
Pelletization is the process in which iron ore is concentrated before
shipment, thus significantly reducing the cost of transportation. In
conventional technology, the process heat is provided by diesel/fuel
burners. The combustion, in the burners, of natural gas, heavy oil
and/or pulverized coal results in the production of greenhouse gases
such as CO2. Plasma torches are therefore an environmentally friendly
alternative.
According to management a typical pellet plant producing 10 million
metric tonnes of pellets annually, emits approximately one million
metric tonnes of CO2. The total world pellet production of 400 million
metric tonnes of pellets corresponds to the production of about 40
million metric tonnes of CO2, and represents a potential market for
torch sales in excess of $10B worldwide.
Separately, the Company announces today that, subject to regulatory
approval, it has retained Independent Trading Group (“ITGâ€) to provide
market making services to the Company in compliance with the policies
and guidelines of the TSXV and other applicable legislation.
The agreement with ITG is principally for the purposes of maintaining
market stability and liquidity of PyroGenesis’ shares and is not a
formal market making agreement. There are no performance factors
contained in the agreement between ITG and the Company and ITG will not
receive any shares or options from the Company as compensation for the
services it will render.
About PyroGenesis Canada Inc.
PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a high-tech company, is the world leader in
the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced
plasma processes and products. We provide engineering and manufacturing
expertise, cutting-edge contract research, as well as turnkey process
equipment packages to the defense, metallurgical, mining, advanced
materials (including 3D printing), oil & gas, and environmental
industries. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and
technicians working out of our Montreal office and our 3,800 m2
manufacturing facility, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage
by remaining at the forefront of technology development and
commercialization. Our core competencies allow PyroGenesis to lead the
way in providing innovative plasma torches, plasma waste processes,
high-temperature metallurgical processes, and engineering services to
the global marketplace. Our operations are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D
certified, and have been ISO certified since 1997. PyroGenesis is a
publicly-traded Canadian Corporation on the TSX Venture Exchange (Ticker
Symbol: PYR) and on the OTCQB Marketplace. For more information, please
visit www.pyrogenesis.com.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including, without limitation, statements containing the words “may”,
“plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”,
“expect”, “in the process” and other similar expressions which
constitute “forward- looking information” within the meaning of
applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the
Corporation’s current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited
to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the
market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the
capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research
and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new
product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory
approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the
Corporation with respect to future events and are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in
the Corporation’s ongoing filings with the securities regulatory
authorities, which filings can be found atwww.sedar.com, or at www.otcmarkets.com. Actual
results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward- looking statements either as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange,
its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the OTCQB accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
