Ann: Ironbark Extends MOU with Norwegian Arctic Specialist LNS, page-57

It might be worthwhile for IBG to take another look at Germanium.

Today's Germanium Price - Historical Charts - Price Forecast (strategicmetalsinvest.com)

Today’s price of Germanium is $2,574.60 per kg.

Germanium Price Forecast

Germanium is a critical component in several growth industries, and it is widely predicted that demand will be 6 to 9 times higher than supply by 2030!

Consider that germanium is used in the production of infrared permeability optics. Therefore, it is indispensable for producing night vision devices and thermal imaging cameras. This is a huge growth market. Luxury cars already use this technology, but this market is about to explode as this technology finds its way to all vehicles in the coming years. Consider self-driving, blind spots, and security automation. Semiconductors, recyclable PET bottles, high-performance processors, detectors for X-rays, and photovoltaics also use this extraordinary metal.

Cold War 2.0 will be a semiconductor race, not an arms race, writes John Naughton of the Guardian (UK). The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) makes 92% of the highest-grade semiconductors in the world, which explains why China and the US could be willing to go to war over Taiwan. TSMC is about a decade ahead of the rest of the world in high-grade semiconductor chips. What’s interesting is Taiwan has the technology; however, currently, China is the world’s largest producer of Germanium.

With the political landscape becoming an ever-increasing factor in raw material markets and issues such as alternative energies, trade wars, and subsidies significantly impacting market dynamics and prices, the forecast is challenging to predict accurately. However, what remains true, particularly in this opaque market, is that it is purely supply and demand driven. And nobody would argue that demand is increasing, and supply is limited and subject to disruption, which always equates to the potential for profit.

Investors should note that supply bottlenecks are predicted due to the new high-tech developments mentioned here. The Fraunhofer Institute for System and Innovation Research expects a significant increase in demand in all these industries. In the field of fibre optics alone, demand is expected to increase eightfold, leading to substantial price increases.

The list of 35 critical minerals (83 FR 23295) published in May 2018 by the US Department of the Interior to ensure secure and reliable supplies includes germanium. With China being the dominant producer and supplier of germanium, Europe and the US now wait in line for what China will export after China satisfies its domestic quotas. We already see shortages, and this is only set to continue.

Hence the price forecast for germanium looks positive for the medium (3 to 5 years) and long term (10 years).

cheers.