NICKEL MINES AND MINING – AUSTRALIA

Lithium rollercoaster decade: IGO

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 13-Sep-24

Data from S&P Global Platts shows that spodume was fetching $US730 per tonne on Wednesday, compared with a peak of more than $US8,000 in early 2023. IGO CEO Ivan Vella says investors should expect further volatility in the price of lithium over the long-term. Vella adds that battery minerals will continue to be the focus for IGO, which produces both lithium and nickel. However, IGO aims to diversify its operations by expanding into copper production; this will help offset the "extreme" volatility of the lithium sector and the structural changes in the nickel market caused by Indonesia’s move to ramp up production with Chinese backing.

CORPORATES
IGO LIMITED – ASX IGO, S&P GLOBAL PLATTS

Forrest wants tax credits, royalty relief to save nickel

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Original article by Brad Thompson, Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 24-Jan-24

Wyloo Metals CEO Luca Giacovazzi has warned that Australia’s nickel industry is at a crossroads, arguing that action is needed to ensure that the sector remains viable. Amongst other things, the private company of mining magnate Andrew Forrest has called for a 10 per cent production tax credit for downstream nickel processing, royalty relief and greater access to government funding. Wyloo also advocates a price premium on nickel that is produced in accordance with environmental, social and governance standards.

CORPORATES
WYLOO METALS PTY LTD

OZ Minerals boss Andrew Cole won’t follow his mines to BHP

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 19-Apr-23

OZ Minerals CEO Andrew Cole intends to "take a break" after more than eight years at the helm of the copper and nickel miner, and he will not join BHP when the $9.6bn takeover is completed. BHP is paying $28.25 per share for OZ; the company’s shares were trading at around $3 when Cole was appointed CEO in late 2014. Cole is highly regarded within the resources sector, and some Newcrest Mining shareholders had called for him to be recruited to succeed Sandeep Biswas following the latter’s departure in December.

CORPORATES
OZ MINERALS LIMITED – ASX OZL, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM

Independence makes $312m hostile bid

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 5-Nov-19

Nickel miner Independence Group is offering one of its shares for every share in Panoramic Resources, valuing the takeover target at $0.476 per share. Independence MD Peter Bradford says Panoramic had previously rejected several approaches regarded a friendly merger, prompting the hostile bid. Bradford anticipates further consolidation among nickel miners, and he expects the recent rise in the price of nickel to be sustained.

CORPORATES
INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL – ASX IGO, PANORAMIC RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX PAN, ZETA RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX ZER, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Nickel group eyes better off-take deals

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 30-Aug-19

Independence Group has posted a 2018-19 net profit of $76.1m, which is 44 per cent higher than previously. The nickel and gold producer’s revenue rose by two per cent to $792.9m, while shareholders will receive a final dividend of $0.08 per share. Independence Group has allocated $66m for exploration in 2019-20, with the aim of extending the mine life of its Nova nickel project and finding new deposits in Western Australia’s Fraser Range.

CORPORATES
INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL – ASX IGO, GLENCORE PLC, NICKEL WEST, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI LIMITED – ASX AGG, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

BHP plugs into battery boom, holds line on ore

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 19 : 23-May-19

CFO Peter Beaven has told investors that BHP is unlikely to increase its Pilbara iron ore output to capitalise on reduced supply from Brazilian rival Vale. BHP will also maintain its current annual production target for metallurgical coal. Beaven also indicated that BHP will pursue growth in copper and nickel sulfide production in response to rising demand for electric vehicles and battery storage technology. He added that BHP may be open to nickel acquisitions, after dropping plans to divest its Nickel West division.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, VALE SA, NICKEL WEST, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

BHP puts faith in nickel again

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 21 : 15-May-19

BHP intends to retain its Nickel West business, which posted underlying EBIT of $US42m for the first half of 2018-19. BHP had previously deemed its nickel division to be a non-core asset and made several attempts to sell the business in recent years. However, CEO Andrew Mackenzie says that although there are still risks associated with Nickel West, it could potentially regain its status as a tier-one asset. The upbeat outlook is based on factors such as growing demand for batteries and limited supply of quality nickel sulphide.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, NICKEL WEST

BHP fire halts work as nickel stages a revival

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 23 : 26-Sep-18

BHP Billiton is still assessing the damage to its nickel smelter in Kalgoorlie after a fire in the plant’s furnace room on 23 September. A spokeswoman has indicated that it is uncertain as to when production will resume. The smelter is part of BHP’s Nickel West business, which the resources group had unsuccessfully tried to sell in recent years. Rising demand for nickel has boosted the fortunes of Nickel West, and BHP may elevate it to a core asset. Macquarie Group is upbeat about the outlook for nickel, forecasting that it will average $US13,800 per tonne in 2018 and $US20,000/tonne in 2019.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, NICKEL WEST, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, DIGGERS AND DEALERS FORUM, LONDON METAL EXCHANGE LIMITED, WMC RESOURCES LIMITED, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32

BHP chair happy with portfolio

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 26 : 21-Sep-18

Analysts who attended BHP Billiton’s recent briefing in London say chairman Ken MacKenzie gave strong indications that the petroleum division is still regarded as a core asset. However, he signalled that further exploration success will be needed for BHP to remain in the sector. BHP’s petroleum division faces a decline in production in coming years as key gas and oil fields become depleted. MacKenzie also told analysts that BHP may be open to retaining its Nickel West assets due to growing demand for batteries.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, NICKEL WEST

Nickel miner pins hopes on electric cars

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 18 : 11-Sep-17

Australian-listed Independence Group is well-placed to benefit from rising demand for nickel, cobalt and copper as sales of electric vehicles rise. The company’s Nova mine produces all three metals, and Independence MD Peter Bradford says it has received a number of enquiries regarding supply deals when existing off-take arrangements with BHP Billiton and Glencore expire. Bradford notes that factors other than demand from the electric vehicle industry have prompted the recent rise in the price of nickel and copper.

CORPORATES
INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL – ASX IGO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, GLENCORE PLC, SIRIUS RESOURCES NL, PANORAMIC RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX PAN, MINCOR RESOURCES NL – ASX MCR, FIRST QUANTUM MINERALS LIMITED, TESLA INCORPORATED