Both ALB and MBN have come out of the Mitchell River...

Both ALB and MBN have come out of the Mitchell River Group.

However they have NO common directors, have never shared offices or facilities etc. The management teams are completely seperate and as far as I know none of the ALB team have been involved with MBN for well over 3 years (if not more)

MBN has the advantage on a very large resource base, cheap mining methods (Open cut) where as ALB is U/G.

The operations could not be any more different. a +6.4Mtpa operation Vs a 900,000 tpa (now reduced to 675,000)the impact on your fixed costs being spread over that many more tonnes WILL make a massive difference in your cost/lb.

Not only that but MBN have a Snr management team that is spending time at the project!

Nick Poll (MBN's MD) has been living over in Brazil near the project for the last 18 months to 2 years now, so they have a much better handle on what is going on at site.