re: Ann: UCL: Sandpiper Phosphate Resource Up... YC, I enjoy...

re: Ann: UCL: Sandpiper Phosphate Resource Up... YC, I enjoy your intelect and input, but I fear you're forgetting about JDC's Improved Hard Process (IHP) which produces a higher value & higher grade concentrated white phosacid. Sandpiper's typically lower grade ore has thus far proven extremely suitable to this revolutionary & ecologically friendly process. Wonarah's ore has also proven itself as extremely suitable as well. In relation to the issue of freshwater, IHP is a dry process, so is very low on its water consumption. It is a concentrate & therefore far more cost-effective in respect to transport. It requires 3 inputs; RP, silica/sand & petroleum coke. No sulphuric acid goes into it. It is scalable and therefore economical to establish to suit desired production levels. The byproduct it produces is a benign (in fact useful) aggregate. In contrast the wet-process to which I think you refer is nowhere near as ecologically sound to produce or in relation to its byproduct, it requires sulphuric acid, it is more expensive to build such a plant & as far as I read, to also run it. MAK is part of a fert industry revolution, albeit that its unfolding relatively quietly.

I agree with you that if we simply became rock miners & sellers from either location, we would remain exposed to the possible downs of rock pricing & the whims of the more profitable value-adders, hence our plans at both locations are to become value-adders to our resource.

MAK's plan is far more ambitious that most realise. I look forward to seeing it all unfold.

GL to all.

Cheers