re: "I can see how everyone has been confused but they are just referencing key statements made in announcements made during the quarter." ~ the Drilling to Commence announcement wasn't made during the September quarter though, as previously posted - company's have and do include events subsequent to period end.
re: Boardroom broadcast from 14th October https://www.boardroom.media/broadcast?eid=6167871a24b926001c2e4db3 ~ 5 mins "Rekovac" quote "that diamond drill rig will be onsite over the next 7 days, results will be forthcoming in a month or so, being diamond we are able to report visuals and I encourage people to keep an on it" ~ 7 days from the date of that interview = 21st October, they HAD (were supposed to have had?) every intention of drilling REK_003 ~ why didn't they? anything to do with discontent of the locals? or as per announced 1st Nov - site works have been completed at REK_003, they would have been ready prior (surely) for Cotton to suggest the diamond drill rig would be onsite 21 October? but are NOW working towards the drill rig breaking ground in the near future! ~ near future being? could be worse and they used the word "imminent" ~ when did the company originally plan to do the "Gravity and Geophysics" surveys? and then continue for the next 2 weeks over the whole area but still no drilling?
@Miroshka re: "I’m reading it as they don’t want to dig up anywhere unnecessarily - they have promising results elsewhere in terms of the survey." ~ I get it and it makes sense to "survey first" and then "drill" on results but by all intent and purposes, as per the company announcements and the web interviews (from the mouth of Cotton) - drilling REK_003 should have been already started/completed? - somewhat ambiguous or flying by the seat of their pants and adjusting to the climate (re: objectors) the drill wasn't available? waiting for all the noise to abate and proceed with less intrusive work?
The following is RIO related but could have relevancy to Balkan ...... Kinghoves from your post: https://hotcopper.com.au/threads/ann-gravity-magnetic-survey-complete-over-entire-rekovac-project.6421085/page-11?post_id=57612272 ~ RIO haven't spent $2B at all, they are planning to spend - I have no doubt that their project will eventually get off the ground but they are facing some headwinds. They have an EIA due end of the year and they have no permits to begin work yet, although the project is gathering momentum, anxious and angry protesters say "they are witnessing an unfolding disaster in the country's "breadbasket", responsible for around a fifth of total agricultural production..." - "The mine will involve the relocation of 81 households, voluntary or otherwise, and the purchase of fields of 293 landowners. Expropriation of homes and land would be a last resort, RIO has procured 80% of the houses and land.
It isn't just a few locals adding voice to the RIO project, and the follow through could possibly bring BMM under the same microscope? In an interview with BIRN, Thomas Waitz, quote "Rio Tinto's projected lithium mining project in Serbia is a backward step in terms of the "green transition" Europe needs to make" ~ Thomas Waitz is an organic permaculture farmer, a beekeeper, a forester, a long time environmental and peace activist BUT also a co-chair of the European Green Party and an Austrian MEP in the European Parliament. https://balkaninsight.com/2021/09/07/a-scandal-green-mep-savages-serbias-planned-rio-tinto-lithium-mine/
~ Proposed work is close to the Paulje Necropolis the biggest central Balkans cemetery from the Bronze Age (1500 -1000BC) is adding to RIO's costs, they have paid a local museum for an archaeological dig and have uncovered hundreds of artefacts to date. ~ Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas internationally recognised as important for the conservation of bird populations. So far no risks have been identified for the existing fauna in these zones but it didn't stop a RIO spokesperson saying "No activities have been or will be carried out during the period of active nesting of birds." ~ RIO has commissioned 12 environmental studies (none made available to the reporter) - one study funded by the company, summarised in a slide presentation offers an insight. Dr Imre Krizmanic (biology faculty of the University of Belgrade, found the attempts to mitigate the damage to more than 145 protected species, fish, flora and fauna would have a highly limited impact. Concluding with "due to the expected irreversible changes in certain ecosystems, as well as risks of significant endangerment of the living world of the rivers Jadar, Drina and downstream watercourses, the optimal and basic measure to prevent the negative consequences of the state of biodiversity in this area is the abandonment of the planned exploitation and processing of the mineral jadaite." ~ Beekeeper Jakovljevic (2km from the mining zone) whose 400 hives produced 3 tonnes of acacia honey last year, said "the area where his bees feed will be desolate." ~ a petition against the mine has more than 130,000 signatures (slightly more than a few locals) is 2% of the Serbian population, a small amount but from little things big things grow. ~ the company has already had to pay small sums in damages due to leakage in fields where it has carried out research, items like this may also bear more scrutiny on BMM? ~ Permits have yet been issued to RIO, will the government succumb to environmentalist and population concerns and have a referendum?
(20min delay)