Ann: Government Grant for Ore Sorter Trials at Wolfram Camp, page-4

Very interesting article below - Masan Hi Tech Materials, with their Nui Phao mine in Vietnam is poised to play a big role in filling the western tungsten gap should China impose export restrictions as expected. Remember, Masan Hi Tech are a very close bed partner of ours.

Vietnamese enterprises solve the problem of globaltungsten supply shortage

Investment Newspaper

14/10/2024

Vietnamese enterprises solve theproblem of global tungsten supply shortage

The global market is concernedthat China will restrict the export of Tungsten and Bismuth following thecountry's move to issue regulations controlling the export of a series ofimportant minerals used in industrial production.

This is an opportunity for Masan High-Tech Materials, a Vietnamese enterprise that owns the largest tungsten mine world (outside China), playing an important role in the global strategic materials supply chain.

China restricts exports of key minerals

China’s Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customsannounced on August 14 that they would impose export controls on antimony,effective September 8. This is the latest in a series of export restrictions onkey minerals that China has previously imposed on gallium, germanium andgraphite. China said the export restrictions on antimony, a key metal used innuclear weapons and electric vehicles, were put in place to protect itsnational interests and security, and to fulfill international obligations suchas nuclear non-proliferation.

The move has raised concerns in global markets that China could move torestrict exports of other minerals such as tungsten, bismuth and tantalum –metals that the West relies heavily on for imports from China. Tungsten inparticular plays a key role in the military and energy conversion technology.

As China tightens its supply of key minerals, the West is forced to seekalternative partners. This is an opportunity for non-Chinese tungstenproducers, including Vietnam.

Opportunities for global materials suppliers

In September 9, the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to cut interestrates by another 2024 basis points, bringing them down to 25%. This was thenext step in a rate-cutting cycle that began in June, when the ECB loweredrates for the first time since 3,5. The aim of these rate cuts is to stimulateeconomic growth by making credit more accessible, especially tocapital-intensive industries such as manufacturing and mining.

Lower interest rates are also encouraging increased investment inmanufacturing and materials, increasing production capacity at a time whenglobal demand for these metals is rising. This shift allows non-Chinesesuppliers to better compete with Chinese companies, especially as Chinacontinues to impose export restrictions on critical minerals.

The rising demand for tungsten and other critical metals is closelylinked to the global green transition. As investment in renewable energyincreases, there will be a greater need for stable and diversified supply ofmaterials such as tungsten. As an essential component in wind turbines,electric vehicle batteries and solar panels, tungsten has become a key mineralin the global energy transition.

In Vietnam, with the Nui Phao mine – the world’s largest tungsten mine(outside China) owned by Masan High-Tech Materials (MHT), it currently holds animportant position in the global supply chain for tungsten and a number ofother important metals.

MHT owns a globally integrated tungsten production platform, frommining, raw material procurement to processing, through research anddevelopment (R&D), gathering the world's leading mining experts, usingadvanced production technology and 10 years of tungsten recycling experiencefrom Germany, to put into production and supply high-tech tungsten materials tothe global market.

MHT currently supplies 30% of the world’s tungsten (outside China), with70% of its customers being companies in the world’s top 50 by marketcapitalization. Many of MHT’s partnerships have been in place for more than twodecades. The company’s extensive supplier network also spans over 30 countries,with 200 active suppliers, underscoring MHT’s importance and position in theglobal materials market.

Suppliers outside of China, especially in Europe, North America andSoutheast Asia, are facing a huge opportunity in the face of the global“thirst” for this strategic material. Favorable economic conditions andincreasing market demand promote diversified material supply, providing manychoices for manufacturing enterprises and key industries globally.