Just briefly putting my 2 cents worth into the conversation for anyone who would like to shoot holes in it, and yes l do hold all three … why ? because l think the first two have at least 3 characteristics considered fundamental for success, ie. good management, good resource, good location, growing demand for their products.
If PLS were considering diversifying their portfolio but broadly remaining within the battery sector(sticking with something they know a bit about) l can’t see any reasons why they shouldn’t take a look at both RNU (graphite) in South Australia and AVL (Vanadium) in Western Australia … maybe they already have and ruled them out ? does anyone know something l don’t ? there must be someone.
- PLS is already partnered with Posco. Posco already has a non binding off take agreement with RNU, so Posco and RNU already know one another quite well. PLS could buy and finalise the build of the already Government approved RNU graphite mine in South Australia plus RNU’s freshly approved / de risked vertically integrated battery anode material processing plant and thereby supply Posco with another source of dependable purified spherical graphite direct from an already trusted partner …PLS.
- AVL, this one maybe a little tougher for PLS but not without its merits. Buy AVL, get the vanadium mine project approval finally over the line (it’s on the cusp) and build it whist simultaneously inheriting AVL’s already established and expandable electrolyte manufacturing facility plus their solar energy capture and battery storage marketing subsidiary VSUN, thereby PLS becomes the owner of Australia's first “gate to plate” verticality integrated one stop shop, from the mine then through the raw material processing stage then onto marketing / sales then finally supply and installation, and maybe even after sales service right here in Australia providing an alternative viable option for buyers of larger scale Battery Energy Storage Systems.
Imagine the headline … PLS wins contact to supply Australian mining capital Kalgoorlie with a 50 MW 10 hour vanadium flow battery promised by Western Australian Government in the recent state election. “The biggest battery of its type in the country”.
A finger in a few pies yes, but nothing to much for PLS to handle.
- Ps: for a real roughy PLS should pick up TKM if they decide to shop around. There are already a few ex PLS directors working ? over there on the the board now plus PLS is a top 20 shareholder, not a lot but they are there, so they all know one another too, may as well jump on the wagon. I like to dream.
Regards Harry
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