@anatol
I don't disagree with some things you say I am merely saying that the Chinese seem able to mine and make money in Africa. If this relies on vertical integration then so be it. You can argue all you like with your facts but...
Australia has, for years, concentrated on the bulk export of minerals without any added value. China has adopted a different path. You will have seen, with your close connections to China, how fast China has changed and developed over the years - it has not done this by exporting raw ingredients.
I had the pleasure of a drive in a friends new car in Shenyang a few years back. She was thrilled (I was terrified even at the 40k we got to). Then she quietly told me how she had lived as a child, only a very few years before.
Sinomine - So LTR sell spod cheaply to a competitor - clearly a business decision. It could be argued that they subsidise the Zimbabwe mine by doing so.
Africa - " We don't know the grade of that spod". Can you not guess? Only a few months back you clearly stated here that the LTR plant was already producing 6% - this was even before production started. Yet no company release has ever been made that states 6% has been produced.
Perhaps the Chinese are in Africa just to avoid business with Australia. Perhaps, sensibly, they are spreading the risk. If it is to drive down the price of Australian Spod then it appears successful. Only time will tell and continuously complaining about the Chinese achieves nothing.
I'm afraid, for Australia, there is a lot of catching up required. This applies to most of the western world.
Investing in Africa can be risky for individuals. For one of the great world powers who can influence politically, financially, physically and absorb losses - not so. When your goal is not just a spod mine .....
On a final note on Africa - not all Africa is the same. I have worked in places where I have had to pass drunken heavily armed soldiers to get to my place of work, where the person beside you in the car suddenly dives below the dash - saying the last time they followed that type of van the door opened and they were sprayed with bullets. Conversely I have worked in places that were as peaceful as a night out in Geraldton. (OK I admit to only having had one night in Geraldton 
)I used to enjoy your posts back around 2019. Some excellent technical assessments and facts.
You made me think very hard during Gina that selling was a stupid thing to do. I even found myself agreeing with you - but my own research prevailed. There was an awful lot of pressure on here that $3 was a stupid price. In retrospect it was. I do feel sorry for the people that were swayed by HC to stay.
You also recently stated that no one bought back in below $1 - When asked for clarity you admitted that this was your friends. I'm really glad I do not fall into that category.
Disclosure - LTH, sold most during Gina, now almost back to where I was. Strong believer in LTR. Always do your own research.
(20min delay)