The current population of Africa is 1.38B as of Monday,...

The current population of Africa is 1.38B as of Monday, September 6, 2021, based on the latest UN estimates. That’s 16.72% of the total world population. Africa ranks number 2 among regions of the world, ordered by population. Just behind China and ahead of India.

Your observation of the effect on Global IO spot prices may well turn out to the case, but that depression of price serves China. They are the largest consumer of Iron Ore after all by a wide margin. Securing Supply at lower prices than Australian/World price is their main aim.

Africa (given the population) is the largest remaining untapped and underdeveloped continent on the planet, and the Chinese aligning themselves with a partner who can yield supply AND also provide demand for Chinese produced Goods is a win-win.

The African People (as represented by their Governments) are desperate to sell their Resources, as has Australia, to better their Economies and secure a bloodless future for their People. To pull them out of poverty and raise the standard of Livng. To gain access to Goods & Services that every Global Corporation in turn will want to sell them.

Core Mining and every other participant will naturally want to extract as much value for Shareholders, but the reality is too little has been achieved and Governments must ultimately serve the People. Guinea being the latest example.

That leverage effect of 250MTPA+ is exactly what the Chinese want, and I believe with or without ‘us’ they will get it. Burgeoning African Markets will rise, and they need Partners that will return Value, not just strip it.

Infrastructure…Football Stadia, Road & Rail networks, Hospitals, Schools, Universities…a taxable Economy that provides work.

The impoverished Nations of Africa becoming the new ‘Wakanda’. A new target for the Global growth that Corporations worldwide look for. The French knew this.

And of course, the scope goes far beyond mineral resources. It ends up as finished goods with massive potential and latent demand. Apple, Microsoft, Nike, Tesla, Facebook, Google, Amazon, Netflix et al all clamouring to keep selling their global dominance.

The Africans may even get their Olympics…something they have never has simply because they’ve not had the means to bid.

That triangle of opportunity will just be another step towards freedom.