* As my NSW energy provider offers a reward for a peak energy...

* As my NSW energy provider offers a reward for a peak energy event this evening, QPME spins up its two turbines to 92% of max output, the QLD forecast price spike has narrowed for this evening, but still sits above $16K between 6-7PM. Should be another good earning day with a grid under stress!

* AMEC says the feds are 'seriously considering' a 10% production tax credit: https://www.mining.com/web/australia-considers-tax-credit-for-minerals-processing-says-industry-group/

* AMEC's submission to the government has nickel processing as a cornerstone with lithium: https://amec.org.au/ptc-resources/

* Eramet's head adding to Indo nickel dominance concerns: https://www.ft.com/content/ae2366b7-ea34-4e24-b4a7-f695eeaa580c

* ESG backlash in some parts of business/the globe: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/companies-walk-esg-tightrope-under-fire-all-sides-over-disclosures-2024-02-29/

All in all, these paint a picture of investors having to weigh up will western governments decide to accept China-backed Indonesia-dominated nickel production or back up their rhetoric with funds to ensure an alternative supply chain that has ESG at its core.

Given the strategic implications in a world rapidly electrifying it's transport, energy backup systems and basically anything that requires a power source, with batteries, the predominant high quality chemistry having high nickel content, and the juxtaposition of high GHG, rainforest and marine degradation, poor labour practice production being the industry norm in a clean energy transition, I would vote they WILL wake up and stump up.

While we seem to be in the valley of death with high interest rates and inflation, excess Indo production, manipulated nickel and battery mineral sector pricing, MSM still propagating an anti-EV & ESG narrative, there are promising signs IMO we'll see support for the TECH project through recent addition of nickel to critical minerals list, NC situation favouring ore exports over smelting, NRF due to kick off, incoming federal budget, Battery Pass kicking off, IRA conditions tightening, interest rates dropping and improving lending sentiment, and the simple fact we are very early on (still) in the energy transition, with under 5% of the global vehicle fleet electric and global energy systems still requiring vast BESS backup, and therefore staggering amounts of batteries and their mineral components to be produced.

Stay strong QPM'ers