Hi Yorkie,
I think when Jules was speaking of potential profits from Primero’s engineering work on battery materials studies (was it at the 2022 AGM? .. . . particularly relation to studies being undertaken in N. America) they were quite high … but it’s too late and I am still too much in holiday mode to track down his exact comments right now.
And maybe that
has changed (yes to the squeeze on lithium producers) or maybe not?
Perhaps the half yearly report will provide some updates on battery metals work.
… And to quickly share a few other bits of news …
Sadly, last Thursday the founder of the large privately held and West Australian-based contracting company, Georgiou Group, Spiro - Peter- Georgiou, passed away aged 88.
Georgiou is another of Australia’s large contracting companies where success has been based on integrity and dedication and I’m reminded of similar words being said at the passing of Cyril Golding, founder of Golding Contracting, now a division of NRW.
“
His leadership, integrity, and dedication turned a small construction company into a national success, guided by principles of hard work and unwavering loyalty to employees,” Georgiou Group said in a statement.”
Spoiler : Vale Spiro Georgiou https://thewest.com.au/business/con...piro-georgiou-passes-dies-aged-88-c-13123960#
Georgiou Group founder Spiro Georgiou dies aged 88 Matt Mckenzie Peter (Spiro) Georgiou in 2012 at the Herdsman office of the company he founded several decades ago. Credit: Bill Hatto/WA News Mr Georgiou built construction company Georgiou Group, which was established in 1977 with support from wife Agnoula and eventually grew to become among the top 10 private businesses in the State. “His leadership, integrity, and dedication turned a small construction company into a national success, guided by principles of hard work and unwavering loyalty to employees,” Georgiou Group said in a statement. John joined the business in 1990 and was chief executive from 1988 to 2018. He now serves as executive chairman and has overseen an expansion into the east coast. The family business is now run by chief executive Gary Georgiou, who is not related to the founder.
Another famous local contractor whose founder has passed is Ausdrill, now Perenti (
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05...der-and-wa-mining-tycoon-ron-sayers/101050224 ), and there was news just yesterday that dome WA employees at its’ mining division, Barminco may be out of work with Panoramic’s closure of the Savannah Nickel mine,
Spoiler : Savannah Nickel Mine to close https://thewest.com.au/business/min...early-400-jobs-hanging-by-a-thread-c-13154829
Panoramic Resources’ Savannah nickel mine to close with nearly 400 jobs hanging by a thread Adrian Rauso Panoramic Resources’ Savannah nickel mine in the East Pilbara. Credit: Wayne Riley/supplied The West Australian understands contractor Barminco, a subsidiary of listed parent Perenti, has approximately 250 workers on site at Savannah. Panoramic’s shares had been in a suspension since November, as the miner sought to flog off its flagship project, but after failing to attract suitors was placed into the hands of FTI last month. The closure of Savannah marks the first recent major casualty of WA’s once-thriving nickel industry, as the pressure mounts on the state’s biggest players including BHP’s Nickel West business and Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo Metals.
Some may remember that Prinero was contracted to work at Savannah in happier times, but that (last August?) a
(timely for us) decision was made that Panoramic would switch to an owner-operated model.
And today, news of another closure - The Alcoa aluminium refinery at Kwinana
“..The move to switch off the State’s oldest alumina plant is a huge blow to local manufacturing, with about 1100 staff and contractors set to lose their jobs or be redeployed…”
I think 2024 looks to be shaping up as a very hard year out there for lithium projects, and for some others as well although there may be a ‘silver lining’ if the squeeze on projects means the worker squeeze is - at last - relaxing?
cheers
(20min delay)