You were one of the 2 thumbers to my reply Jaded. lol
You just don't get it do you? There is no "blended" anode. There is not going to be any "blended" anode.
Currently there are 2 types of 'prebaked anodes' used in smelting.
1. A graphitized anode, aka synthethic one made from calcined petcoke and anthracite.
2. A coke anode made from petcoke, recycled anode butts and coal tar pitch.
Chalieco is planning to make a third type:
3. A natural graphite anode. Syrah is forecasting that this anode will replace between 10% to 15% of these other anode types.
The aluminium smelting industry is, and has been striving, for years to reduce the amount of energy consumed in the process. Chalieco obviously believes that the increased conductivity of natural graphite is worth the effort now they have found a supplier with the right quality, right volume, and right price.
So, Adkins is like you Jaded, can't read an announcement properly. If there is any confusion or doubt then maybe Adkins or your good self could ring Syrah of Chanalco/Chalieco to clarify. Now, there is a thought.
By the by, there are "blended" cathodes used in smelting and there doesn't seem to be any reported problems with cracking due to the varying expansion rates of the raw materials, or whatever Adkins is trying to suggest is a potential problem??? Whatever, it is a moot issue regarding anodes as I have explained above.
Regarding Adkins and his stupid question about sourcing graphite from MOZ? Is the guy ignorant to what is going on with Chinese graphite mines being shut down? Or, did he just have an ulterior motive for dishing out aspersions on Chalieco and Syrah?
According to the Industrial Minerals website in May, many Chinese graphite mines are being squeezed shut:
http://www.indmin.com/Article/33453...-supply-squeeze-sparks-China-price-rises.html
Notwithstanding that it is a well known fact across the graphite world that Chinese graphite supply is decreasing, a summary of the key points from that Industrial Minerals article are:
1. Heiliongjiang Province in China officially announced plans to shut down polluting flake graphite
operations and to start consolidating graphite mines over the next 18 months.
2. Heliongjiang accounts for about 45% of Chinese production and 29% of global output in 2013.
3. Prior to this in December 2013, Shandong Province was ordered to halt production of graphite for environmental reasons. Shandong Province represents about 20% of Chinese production.
4. Since the Shandong and Heliongjiang announcements, graphite prices have risen by about 30%.
It might be fine for the likes of you Jaded to rely on conflicted commentary by those who pass themselves as experts or whatever. I prefer to do my own research and make my own deductions from the facts and proper assumptions of such research.
Good luck with your trading and/or investing in your boutique graphiters, whatever that means! I wouldn't buy shares in Archer even if you gifted me money. I've sold my shares in Talga. And MTA? Good luck!
Cheers
