The problems in Tanzania are exactly why investors should put...

The problems in Tanzania are exactly why investors should put their money into stable jurisdictions, like Australia, and into good companies.

Any African country, but particularly ones like Tanzania, who has had a continual fight over taxes with Anglo for many years, will be a high risk investment. Some high risk is ok of course, it's a matter of how you assess it, and what is available elsewhere.

Some of those that got hit today include MNS, KNL, and ORR. Their shareholders may want to wait until after the Tanzania legislation is passed, then analyse it's effects on their company, then assess their level of continuing risk. They are all in trading halts now, to stop the bleeding.

I will stick with HXG, for the following reasons;

HXG has;

* Excellent new technical management, scientific management, and financial management.

* High purity graphite in a good location.

* Knowledge and experience with the 18650 Lithium ion cell standards and the rigorous test protocols required by battery manufacturers.

* HXG have engaged a "battery materials" expert on an exclusive basis who is guiding their downstream test-work through the spheronisation, purification and cell-testing stages.

* HXG has started this test-work using a bulk concentrate generated from the 2.5t pilot sample.

* HXG is also working with a battery design expert based in Europe, who has worked for some of the largest battery manufacturers and knows the detailed pre-qualification requirements, so that HXG goes through this stage as efficiently as possible.

* HXG management realises that test-work needs to be focussed on being able to produce exactly what the battery maker wants, which is why they have engaged these groups.

In the meantime, good luck to our Tanzania invested colleagues, I really do hope they escape unscathed, though I expect some will suffer more than others from the new legislation. Maybe Australia is the lucky country.

Gw