Great Inetrview

Interview with Justin Brown, Executive Director, Element 25, Developing World Class High Purity Manganese Production for Li-Ion Batteries


quote from the Interview:
Dr. Allen Alper: Sounds excellent! What are the primary reasons our high-net-worth readers/investors should consider investing in Element 25.

Mr. Justin Brown: That's a good question. If you look at the investment proposition, we have just demonstrated the economic viability of the project at a scoping level. We have a market capitalization which is very modest, about $20, $25 million dollars. We have a balance sheet, which comprises about ten million in liquid assets, cash and a couple of key investments that will provide further capital for us. So, we're fully funded for the budgeted pre-feasibility and feasibility study phases, so there will be little or no dilution for that period. That type capital structure will be maintained as we realize the value of the project.

I think the market for manganese is looking very buoyant, particularly in the high purity segment. We've engaged several experts to provide market research for us. They’ve made very bullish forward looking forecasts, both on volume and price for these high purity manganese products. The Chinese manganese market is declining because of their lack of domestic ore. On a cost basis, I think we can be incredibly competitive with other producers of these products. Because of the size of the resource, it's imminently scalable. We can come in at a modest capex and get underway, generate cash and then we can grow quite aggressively. The upside case in the medium term is incredibly bullish for the business.

I think it's financially robust, if you buy it today you get in at a comparatively low price. I think the future looks very bright for us.



Dr. Allen Alper: Sounds excellent! Sounds like you have an outstanding project. It's a unique project. It's very large. You're close to the market. It sounds excellent.

Mr. Justin Brown: All those things you said are true. It's well positioned. It's big. It's going to have a very long mine life. If we were to produce 100,000 tons of manganese metal a year, which would generate in excess of $200 million US dollars in sales, a relatively small case, but even at that size we would have a lucrative business. It just demonstrates the scalability. If we can double, triple, quadruple that volume as we move forward and the mine life's not constrained by the resource side, the large, very simple resource at surface, very low strip ratio, very low cost mining, the fantastic infrastructure and the project. The timing, change in market demand and price are all good, all in favor of us. So I think we have a bit of a tail wind working for us and I think we're going to have some great success.

Dr. Allen Alper: Sounds excellent!