How long will it take for the US and AU Govt's to announce Alkane as a strategic partner?
Based on some digging, I think we'll see it in the very near term.
Reason being, looking at the US’s Critical Minerals list wecan see Zirconion, Niobiumand Hafnium is included – refer to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/05/18/2018-10667/final-list-of-critical-minerals-2018.
These are classified as Technology Metals (vs Rare Earths) according to https://tradium.com/en/technology-metals/. So we're really in the Technology Metals business.
Considering we're therefore helping the US protect their technology from China and Trump's protectionist agenda is likely to be the driving force of his re-election campaign in November 2020, I'd suspect he's pulling out all stops to get line up some ducks.
Now, looking at the DZP products, the US’s reliance on unfriendly foreign countries, and taking into consideration Austrade's Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus, we can deduce that
a) only 3 of the 16 projects listed in the Prospectus can actually supply these Technology Metals to the US, and
b) only Alkane Resources is ready to start digging and help secure resources quickly.
Technology Metals - Project Readiness
· Zirconium: Alkane (shovel ready), Brockman (exploration), Narraburra (Exploration)
· Niobium: Alkane (shovel ready), Brockman (exploration), Narraburra (Exploration)
· Hafnium: Alkane (shovel ready), Brockman (exploration), Narraburra (Exploration)
· Rare Earths – various other projects are likely to supply the mix required by the US
US Reliance (indicates some urgency)
· Zirconium - 50% of US demand reliant on China & others
· Niobium - 100% US demand reliant on Russia & others
· Hafnium- the US is a net exporter but demand rising globally
· Rare Earths - 100% US demand reliant on China & others
Source: https://www.austrade.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/5572/Australian_Critical_Minerals_Prospectus.pdf.aspx
To summarise, there are no other projects, other than Alkane, ready to supply these core Technology Metals to the US
I think we can expect a share price above $2 very soon off the back of DZP and Gold.
Not advice. DYOR.
(20min delay)