✦ Part 4 of Samso's Special Series on Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX) with Andrew Strickland, Head of Project Development on his role in the Ta Khoa Nickel Cu-PGE Project in Vietnam.
Post year-end in July 2021, Blackstone Minerals delivered a compelling Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for the Downstream Business Unit. The PFS demonstrated post-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of more than US$2 billion and internal rate of return (IRR) of 67%. Upfront project capital of US$491 million would be paid back in 1.5 years from first production.
In terms of Blackstone Minerals' Upstream unit, they are continuing to drill out five orebodies across the project, comprising two larger disseminated deposits and three high-grade underground deposits. Blackstone Minerals have eight drill rigs operating to support resource estimations for each of these and these are intended to be incorporated into the Upstream Business Unit PFS, due for delivery later in the 2021 calendar year.
[source: Blackstone Minerals Annual Report 2021]
Andrew Strickland together with the experience management team to drive Ta Khoa forward as mine-to-market nickel business. The Ta Khoa Nickel Project is to produce downstream nickel products for the lithium-ion battery industry.
Andrew had a Coffee With Samso interview where he describes his role in developing the overall upstream and downstream projects in a way to optimise the overall value of Blackstone Minerals including Blackstone's ESG culture, in particular managing ESG in Vietnam.
If you want to take a peek into Blackstone Mineral's operations of the Ta Khoa Nickel Project, this is the inside story.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:02 Andrew Strickland Introduction
01:49 What does Andrew deal with in the Business.
02:33 Does Blackstone having its own ore make it "safer" ?
04:02 The Massive Sulphide vs. Disseminated Sulphide Story.
05:25 There is challenge of having a large number of targets.
06:49 How Important is planning the timing of delivering your targets.
09:13 How does Ta Khoa compare to other projects?
11:18 What does Andrew feel on the ESG factors in Vietnam.
13:02 ESG is more apparent for Andrew and his area of concern.
14:12 Is drilling more expensive in Vietnam?
15:10 Is the culture of ESG instilled in Blackstone?
16:32 What is the resource going to look like ?
18:15 Is the implementation of Electric Vehicle & Renewable Energy in the Feasibility Study?
19:06 How realistic is the coming of the electric Mining Fleet.
19:41 The Hybrid nature of mining fleet including Hydrogen
19:56 Transition Path to Electric Mining Fleet
20:45 Are there any other "ways' to do it better?
22:08 How hard is it to have a Mining Fleet?
24:11 Is the plan to have an electric fleet the way to go?
25:10 What is it for Investors going forward?
25:49 Development of by-products
26:22 Potential of Credits
27:28 The benefits of by-product credits
28:10 Any issues chemically?
29:19 Are the partners helping ?
30:26 Are your "retail" partners helping?
31:41 Any last minute thoughts to investors?
32:47 Ducks lining up proper now for Nickel and Mining Nickel.
34:04 Conclusion
PODCAST
About Andrew Strickland
Head of Project Development
Blackstone Minerals Limited
Qualifications: BEng (Chemical), BSci(Extractive Metallurgy), MBA, FAusIMM
Mr. Strickland is a Perth local and former manager at GR Engineering, who takes on the role of Head of Project Development at Blackstone Minerals on 9th November 2020. He has a history of developing mining and metals projects across different commodities and jurisdictions, including stints at Perseus Mining and South32 and has a broad understanding and experience in minerals processing, project management and corporate strategy.
He is an experienced Study and Project Manager, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, University of WA MBA graduate, with undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy from Curtin and the West Australian School of Mines.
About Blackstone Minerals Limited
Blackstone Minerals Limited released its annual report on 30th September 2021.
Blackstone is focused on building an integrated upstream and downstream processing business in Vietnam that produces nickel: cobalt: manganese (NCM) precursor products for Asia’s growing lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery industry and providing a product with “green” credentials from mine to customer. We believe our efforts to create a business that value-adds to the products we mine –delivering this in an environmentally friendly way by using renewable hydroelectricity – sets us apart from our peers, says Hamish Halliday, Chairman
Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX: BSX) is developing the district-scale Ta Khoa Project in Northern Vietnam where the company is drilling out the large-scale Ban Phuc Nickel-PGE deposit. The Ta Khoa Nickel-PGE Project has existing modern mine infrastructures built to International Standards including a 450ktpa processing plant and permitted mine facilities.
Blackstone Minerals also owns a large landholding at the Gold Bridge project within the BC porphyry belt in British Columbia, Canada with large scale drill targets prospective for high-grade gold-cobalt-copper mineralisation. In Australia, Blackstone Minerals is exploring for nickel and gold in the Eastern Goldfields and gold in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Blackstone Minerals has a board and management team with a proven track record of mineral discovery and corporate success.
The Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project
Vietnam
The Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project is located 160km west of Hanoi in the Son La Province of Vietnam and includes an existing modern nickel mine built to Australian Standards, which is currently under care and maintenance. The Ban Phuc nickel mine successfully operated as a mechanised underground nickel mine from 2013 to 2016.
Contact Blackstone Minerals Limited
REGISTERED OFFICE
a/ Suite 3, Level 3, 24 Outram Street, West Perth, WA, 6005
t/ + 61 8 9425 5217
f/ +61 8 6500 9982
POSTAL ADDRESS
PO Box 1175, West Perth, WA, 6872
Bonus eBook for Investors
VMS (Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide) Deposits Explained
In simple terms, Volcanic-associated Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits are caused by underground metal-rich volcanoes rising and creating a cooking environment.
We suggest you download this eBook which explains the VMS and How to Add Value to your Share Portfolio
Disclaimer
This article is sponsored content.
ASX companies engage Samso and Brilliant-Online to share their commentary on the progress of their companies and projects. The author, owners of Samso and Brilliant-Online and associated entities may or may not hold shares of these companies.
The information or opinions provided herein do not constitute investment advice, an offer or solicitation to subscribe for, purchase or sell the investment product(s) mentioned herein. It does not take into consideration, nor have any regard to your specific investment objectives, financial situation, risk profile, tax position and particular, or unique needs and constraints. Read full Disclaimer. - Samso
About the Author
Noel Ong, CEO of Samso tells compelling stories by engaging business leaders to reveal insights beneficial to the investment community.
Contact Samso
Samso helps executives tell their stories to pique investor interest.
t/ +61 490 092 814
Advertise with Brilliant-Online
✦ Brilliant-Online is the only publication that offers a single interactive multichannel advertising package.
✦ The purpose of Brilliant is to push for a better world in the digital era.
✦ Brilliant-Online is an empowering read for progressive individuals and dynamic businesses.
✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please contact us here.
