AVZ Discussion 2022

[protoje]

This is all sounding pretty positive. I’m one of the ones in the dark and have no clue, but it feels more and more like we’re going mining.

 

[Carlos Danger]

“The DRC’s Ministry of Industry has been tasked by the government to build a battery metals industry in Africa, with a state-owned firm processing some of the battery minerals in the country and other African countries playing various roles in the value chain,” states Madlabane.

He adds: “In an effort to curb the effects of climate change, the world needs to go through an energy transition that will be driven largely by battery metals. With the DRC endowed with these minerals, the country needs a platform for dialogue on how to leverage the demand. The theme of the conference is: Creating wealth for the DRC and Africa’s battery metals industry value chain.”

Saying the quiet part out loud

 

[Carlos Danger]

– Developing incredible investor incentives
– Transparent value chains and governance

 

[MoneyBags1348]

I will add, whilst this is leaning good news. They could just be meeting their sponsorship obligations. Though I feel AVZ law suit for them not meeting obligations would have been cheaper than the credibility they will lose by their lead sponsor being fucked over.

Imagine if AVZ pulled out of being the lead sponsor and told the whole mining and investment community why…. As if they didn’t already know

I’ve been accumulating more information to tell them why, but no longer seems necessary

@CHB I think of the few things stopping the ML, ownership was the main one and hopefully there is good news on that front

 

[Xerof]

Does being a Cobalt Sponsor also provide the opportunity to present or talk at the conference?

If it does I'm grabbing the jumbo popcorn and a large coke and heading over to check it out...

View attachment 40775

Mate it looks to be an all-in talkfest run by the Ministers, but it does say there's an opportunity for miners etc to have their say in the discussion.

There is a link to the conference program, but (of course) it doesn't fucking work, for me anyway

 

[BEISHA]

Speculation/Theory

1. July 6. CMOC and Geca has long been rumoured to be part of the new JV and have expressed interest in Congolese lithium. CATL also present in these discussions.

View attachment 40684

2. Also July 6. African Battery Metals change the date of their upcoming conference. Moving a conference 3 months before an event is no mean feat. With hotels and flights booked from many attendees, they would need a significant reason to do so. Old venue unavailable? More capacity required? Core announcement concerning a battery hub? What better place to make the latter.

View attachment 40685

3. It is of note that AVZ were the lead sponsor at this event, announced Sept 26 2022 with the original dates announced alongside with it. This was the one of the first posts they made with respect to the 2023 event tying AVZ directly to the event. Did they have any discussions with AVZ as to why they would make a good fit as lead sponsor? Was it just money? Refer back to the article in 1, take note of the phrasing "ambitious battery project" and "Manono".

View attachment 40686

4. Recently the two companies were in the headlines. Gecamines claiming CMOC owed them $7.6 billion USD.
A $1.5 Billion Hoard of Copper and Cobalt Is Piling Up in Congo - BNN Bloomberg
At the heart of the issue is state miner Gecamines’ claim that CMOC has been lying about its mineral reserves and owes the company $7.6 billion in royalties and interest.

5. July 19. CMOC and Gecamines came to an agreement, $7.6 billion USD to $0.8 billion USD reduction from the initial Gecamines claim. Quite the discount.
UPDATE 3-China's CMOC agrees to pay $800 million to end row with Congo's Gecamines | Reuters
“CMOC will further consolidate partnerships with Gecamines and expand co-operation in the new energy and other sectors,” it said. The firm is “committed to economic development and people’s welfare in Congo and making a greater contribution to co-operation between China and Congo,” it said.

6. Why would Gecamines give such a discount? Do they have any direct interest in the upstream battery sector? See the below article from June 27 2023. The quote is of note.
DR Congo sounds alarm about cobalt prospects | Financial Times (ft.com)
The new head of Gécamines, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s state mining company, said the country had missed the opportunity to leverage its dominance in the cobalt market and attract investment off the back of the metal vital for batteries in electric cars and electronics.

7. Furthermore, the CMOC and CATL relationship extends further than the meeting above.
China's CATL to take near 25% stake in CMOC | Reuters

8. Could the $6.6 billion USD saving that CMOC just made with Geca be used toward the purchase of something else?
6.6 billion USD minus DRC Tax (28%) = 4.8 billion USD
USD to AUD = 7 billion AUD
Divided by 3.5 billion shares on issue = $2 AUD/Share

This would align with Nigel comments at roadshows in regard to takeover needing to be above $1.50 ($2 is still to low IMO) and would put any (frivolous or otherwise) class action suits to bed. Hope this absolutely speculative post is off interest to others. I have no inside information concerning any of the above topics.

Nice find.............

@JasonM

Did i mention that August is "imminent" ???

How strange that AVZ is still sponsor of the Battery metals conference in September ?.....

 

[Winenut]

Mate it looks to be an all-in talkfest run by the Ministers, but it does say there's an opportunity for miners etc to have their say in the discussion.

There is a link to the conference program, but (of course) it doesn't fucking work, for me anyway

I think I know why it doesn't work for you...

 

[TDITD]

Imagine if AVZ pulled out of being the lead sponsor and told the whole mining and investment community why…. As if they didn’t already know

I’ve been accumulating more information to tell them why, but no longer seems necessary

@CHB I think of the few things stopping the ML, ownership was the main one and hopefully there is good news on that front

Ownership was never in doubt. It's just a shame we needed ICSID to remind a few of this fact !!

 

[Doc]

So, IF something is indeed happening and the DRC and all interested parties want to make a big deal of it, would it not make sense to have an announcement or some type of signing ceremony at say a Battery Minerals Forum where the big wigs are attending?

 

[DiscoDanNZ]

Just stumbled across this and it gave me a chuckle, I feel it sums up the intelligence of the expert blow ins pretty well although it doesn't go into s0vEreIgN R1$K enough to apply to AVZ

 

[Scoota30]

So, IF something is indeed happening and the DRC and all interested parties want to make a big deal of it, would it not make sense to have an announcement or some type of signing ceremony at say a Battery Minerals Forum where the big wigs are attending?

I have PTSD from 2021when we signed on to be a part of the DRC Battery Council and look how that ended up for us. Can do nothing more than hope this forum isn't another place where all the talk happens but none of the walking does. Pineapples galore

 

[MoneyBags1348]

So, IF something is indeed happening and the DRC and all interested parties want to make a big deal of it, would it not make sense to have an announcement or some type of signing ceremony at say a Battery Minerals Forum where the big wigs are attending?

No Doc, it would have to be done well before that if they don’t want shit to hit the fan like it’s hopefully hitting the carpet at klaus jerkoff’s place

Even though AVZ is in suspension I still expect them to release their Quarterly Report soon (likely late as usual) .

That would be a good time, but remember if anything is indeed happening as you say…. It would have to be signed in English, French, Chinese and possibly Swahili and I can’t see that happening at any Battery Metals event. I just hope CATH step up because they have been getting an audience with Felix along with CMOC.

I’m not going to tease anyone about announcements Friday night, the Quarterly is due Monday and I haven’t taken Nigel the next door neighbour’s beagle for a walk so it’s up to someone else to throw a bone or a grenade into Friday

I’m looking forward to the fight between Terrence Crawford and Errol Spence Jnr on the weekend so hopefully have a bit of time off worrying about AVZ

 

[DiscoDanNZ]

No Doc, it would have to be done well before that if they don’t want shit to hit the fan like it’s hopefully hitting the carpet at klaus jerkoff’s place

Even though AVZ is in suspension I still expect them to release their Quarterly Report soon (likely late as usual) .

That would be a good time, but remember if anything is indeed happening as you say…. It would have to be signed in English, French, Chinese and possibly Swahili and I can’t see that happening at any Battery Metals event. I just hope CATH step up because they have been getting an audience with Felix along with CMOC.

I’m not going to tease anyone about announcements Friday night, the Quarterly is due Monday and I haven’t taken Nigel the next door neighbour’s beagle for a walk so it’s up to someone else to throw a bone or a grenade into Friday

I’m looking forward to the fight between Terrence Crawford and Errol Spence Jnr on the weekend so hopefully have a bit of time off worrying about AVZ

All this talk about something big being signed at a big flashy event sounds like the last 10 times the same speculation/expectation of it happening has come and gone. My advise here is to wish for nothing to happen and it might just come true.

 

[Samus]

I have PTSD from 2021when we signed on to be a part of the DRC Battery Council and look how that ended up for us. Can do nothing more than hope this forum isn't another place where all the talk happens but none of the walking does. Pineapples galore

Ditto, some bullshit sponsor from Vuka group isn't going to cut it!
Bring on the news! FFS...

 

[tonster66]

With the change of dates for the conference there has also been a change of venue. Correct me if I am wrong (I know you will), but I believe the original venue was cong's hotel.
I dont know if this means anything, its just interesting

 

[Mr Inappropriate]

There's something stopping that though, else they could have issued that anytime.

Naked corruption and self-dealing?

 

[Jazz]

Imagine if AVZ pulled out of being the lead sponsor and told the whole mining and investment community why…. As if they didn’t already know

I’ve been accumulating more information to tell them why, but no longer seems necessary

@CHB I think of the few things stopping the ML, ownership was the main one and hopefully there is good news on that front

Or maybe best AVZ stay as the lead sponsor. Probably relatively cheap way to keep the story front and centre of the DRC mining community, without looking like we have thrown a hissy fit. Stays in line with the BOD portraying the good and honest, by the book, company image.

 

[RHyNO]

My money is on absolutely fucking nothing happening and management just waiting out new government arriving and sorting this shit.

 

[MoneyBags1348]

With the change of dates for the conference there has also been a change of venue. Correct me if I am wrong (I know you will), but I believe the original venue was cong's hotel.
I dont know if this means anything, its just interesting

The previous venue for the DRC-AFRICA Battery Metals 2023 event was the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa owned by African Equities which is reportedly twice as good and half the price of a room at Congs. Cong owns the Fleuve Hotel

There has also been a change in the ministry overseeing this event but I can’t quite remember what it was. I think it went from Antoinette to Julien Paluku

 

[tonster66]

The previous venue for the DRC-AFRICA Battery Metals 2023 event was the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa owned by African Equities which is reportedly twice as good and half the price of a room at Congs. Cong owns the Fleuve Hotel

There has also been a change in the ministry overseeing this event but I can’t quite remember what it was. I think it went from Antoinette to Julien Paluku

Thanks.