Batteries fuel HPA demand: CRU, page-17

9/1/2018 announcement – ATC lodges applications for both manufacturing licence and pioneer status to MIDA

According to MIDA:
How long does it take to approve for Manufacturing Licence?
Manufacturing licence will be approved within 3 days for companies applying for ML08 (under Automatic Issuance of Manufacturing Licence). For other applications, decisions will be made within 4 weeks from the date of complete information received.
1/6/2018 announcement – ATC receives official manufacturing licence from MIDA.

So up to 4 months late.

According to MIDA: http://www.mida.gov.my/home/frequently-asked-questions-(faqs)/posts/
How long does it take to consider the application for the incentives? (Pioneer status)
The incentives will be processed and the decision will be made within 6 weeks from the date of complete information received.
My understanding is (and I may be wrong), we required the official manufacturing licence before pioneer status could be considered.
Note '6 weeks from the date of complete information received'. Have a look at the form ATC had to fill out. It wouldn’t surprise me if a bit of iteration was required to nail down every item to MIDA's satisfaction.
http://www.mida.gov.my/home/adminis...ads/20180803162045_ICA-JA3(01092017n)-02.docx

1/6/2018 + 6 weeks takes us to 15/7.
Now given the Manufacturing Licence was overdue by 4 months it seems likely pioneer status may take a while yet.
Very frustrating for all of us, but nothing to be alarmed about imo.
I also note at the ground breaking ceremony, MIDA representatives were present so that gives me confidence all is well.
Patience grasshoppers