potash producers rally on high grain prices, page-5

right on garyrm.

you really shouldn't be able to go wrong investing in the stuff that makes food grow - unless of course someone comes up with some genius miracle substitute in the meantime.

another poster here made a 2011 wishlist for stb.

apart from the obvious wishlish ->(ie SP rockets and holds and STB becomes a co and not get taken over and that they start to go into prod asap and rosie turns out to be a corker and they find some viable gold as a sweetener).

i would like to add the following to my wishlist:

1) it's clear that Huge parts of Eritrea will also have similar shallow deposits. I don't believe our tenement is unique. I hope that the nation will do well out of its natural resources and have the chance to stand up on its feet.

2) I hope that these prospects create jobs, wealth and pride for the average Eritrean.

3) I hope that the dictatorship will not pocket all the wealth into theirs and their cronies swiss accounts - that money is re-invested into health, education, infrastructure to make life for the Eritreans better.

4) I hope that they can fend off aggression from Ethiopia and also fend off some the influence of crazy militant Islamists from Sudan and Somalia.

No doubt the regime knows exactly what is going on. Depending on how much Potash is in their ground, this could be, in my opinion, something up there with the oil in Brunei for them.

If Eritrea really is onto a winner with the Potash, it would certainly play in their interests to maintain independence, take care of their people and help in clearing up their shipping lanes, and those off Somailia of piracy.

Watch this space... if the Eris clean up on Potash, there will be quite a few jealous neighbours. They are going to want to look after their population with the new wealth - as to stave away dissent & indignation fuelled by foreign and religious agitators.

Regarding the Chinese angle - of course they are eye-balling this one.

The Chinese have been making a great inroads in all of Africa for well over 20 years - in many parts of Africa, the Chinese are viewed more highly than the whiteys - that is because they look after Africans in business and in work/living standards better than they look after their own back home in China. Certainly a hell of a lot better treatment than the Europeans have been dishing out.

When the US talks about winning the "hearts and minds" of a people, they should follow the Chinese example in Africa. Soft force is certainly more effective than hard force.

Life in Africa has been pretty tough for most, if you take really good care of the people that work for you, you will really win them over and all should be good. The bonus is, is that it really shouldn't cost all that much extra either.

I have no doubts about STB mgmt, though i have big doubts about Eritrea mgmt.

Lets hope that should we become a company, we will be one that is ethical and looks after the interests, health and wellbing of its workers. i for one would be happier to hold a stock which is 20-30c cheaper than what it could be - if i know that people are being looked after - i'm happy to pay that premium. also because i believe it will work out better for the co in the long run, set a positive precendent in doing business in developing and 3rd world nations and build a reputation for the co that not only makes it an employer of choice, but certainly will help make dodgey govts look better - thereby opening inroads for doing business across the African continent.

Well, that's my humanitarian and social spiel for the now. I really do believe in what i just wrote and also do believe that you can make a stupid amount of money, while at the same time looking after the welfare of people.

I hope we become a company and not get taken over. I hope we can also employ loads of Eritreans and give them training and new skill sets, good medical care and a decent school for their kids.

Go STB, let's smash it this year and do the right thing.