A year ago, a face mask was part of a self-care-at-home-spa day, hand sanitiser was a lame stocking stuffer, and loo roll was just…well, loo roll, not a precious commodity.
A year ago, these all took a different role in our lives – now we now can’t leave the house without a face mask (or two – just in case), and sanitise everything and anything that comes within a 2 metre distance. A year ago, we abandoned our dying desk plants, set up our temporary home offices, and naively told ourselves we would be back in the office in a few short weeks. Little did we know we would still be here a year on and terms like ‘new normal’ would become commonplace. It has been a long year that has simultaneously shot past us now that we look back to the Before Times – how did we ever stand so close to each other? And we had how many people in one room?!
But, through the grey cloud that descended over the world a year ago, there have been some definite blue-sky moments and rays of sunshine that have persistently made their way through. From our local everyday heroes of key workers, to national symbols of hope like Sir Tom Moore, to a brief return to freedom (and discounted food!) in summer with some of the best weather on record, to now rolling out one of the most rigorous and effective vaccination programmes in history, putting us on the road to freedom. With the horizon ahead looking bright, we cannot help but keep in our hearts the words of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore: ‘The sun will shine on you again and the clouds will go away’.
Client News:Â
Contango Holdings is currently in discussions for a potential long term offtake for the coking coal produced at its project with a subsidiary of a major Chinese industrial company and one of the world’s largest stainless steel producers. The potential partner has plans to build a carbon steel plant with a capacity of 2m tonnes of steel a year, neighbouring Lubu. The plant is expected to finish production towards the end of April 2021 and discussions and meetings between both parties will advance as well as a site visit, ahead of its finalisation. With the vital part coking coal plays in steel manufacturing, and the proximity of Lubu to the partner’s steel plant, the partnership between both parties is evident.
Emmerson Plc (LSE: EML) announced the appointment of James Kelly to the board of directors. Mr Kelly brings nearly 20 years of experience in the mining sector with a particular focus on areas of corporate finance and financing strategy. His experience will be highly relevant during this key stage for Emmerson’s development as it prepares for project financing. Additionally, Emmerson has applied for the cancellation of the listing of its ordinary shares on the Official List and trading on the Main Market and for admission to trading on the AIM Market.  Admission to trading on AIM is expected on 27th April.
Tirupati Graphite Plc (AIM: TGR) has strengthened its team across its three business units in order to support its rapid growth, including the appointment of the world leading graphene scientist and mineral processing technology expert Dr S. K. Biswal as head of the TGMRC. Dr Biswal completes Tirupati’s senior management team over all three units, alongside over thirty engineers, geologists, technologists and specially trained technicians that have been appointed in recent months. As Tirupati enters an accelerated development mode, strengthening its management team and in particular the technical team, is key to successfully driving its various developments forward.
Jubilee Metals Group Plc (AIM: JLP) released its  interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2020, bringing to a close a period of exceptional operational and financial growth for the company. Highlights of the results included a 212% increase in attributable earnings, largely due to PGM production surging by 34% paired with increased metal prices bringing PGM revenue up 125%. Additionally, the period saw a 110% increase in group revenue which resulted in attributable earnings of £30.9 million. A number of milestones were achieved during the six months under review, including the acquisition of the rights to almost 300 million tonnes of copper and cobalt tailings in Zambia for Jubilee’s processing facilities, where production is being ramped up with construction at Project Roan underway and first copper concentrate from Sable Refinery expected in the following weeks. Alongside these new developments, there have also been significantly improved efficiencies across its existing South African chrome and PGM operations which delivered both record production and financial performances.  H2 2020 was a period of significant growth for Jubilee and is indicative of the success of ‘The Jubilee Way’ and demonstrative of the team’s technical knowledge.
FastForward Innovations Ltd (AIM: FFWD) announced that Yooma Wellness Inc, in which it holds a 5.1% interest, has acquired Socati Corp, a US based manufacturer and seller of premium quality cannabinoid ingredients and consumer products. The transaction was valued at $25m and demonstrates Yooma’s international ambition as it looks to expand beyond Asia into other major cannabinoid markets. FFWD is pleased to see Yooma’s rapid progress
You may have missed…Â
Ferro Alloy Resources (AIM: FAR) CEO Nick Bridgen spoke with ShareTalkNews on the prospectus for its vanadium project and the recent investment from Vision Blue Resources. Also listen to recently appointed Sir Mick Davis speak on VSACapital’s webinar on the role of vanadium in the green economy and the investment opportunity in FAR.
Trident Royalties Plc (AIM: TRR) CEO Adam Davidson spoke with London South East following last week’s major deal of Thacker Pass. Adam Davidson also presented at the Shares Magazine Investor Evening Webinar earlier in the week – register to catch up on the full presentation here. Additionally, read more about the Thacker Pass deal and fundraise in the Mining Journal.
Jubilee Metals Group Plc (AIM: JLP) CEO Leon Coetzer joined DirectorsTalk to speak about the successful interim results.
In the news this week…Â
Reminisce about the last year through The Telegraph’s roundup of the pandemic in pictures.
A reminder of all of the best uplifting stories since lockdown began.
The Sunday Times have shared their best places to live in the UK for 2021 – did your home town make the list?
The new £50 note featuring Alan Turing has been revealed.
Spain has launched a trial of a 4 day working week.
Find the Government petition to officially mark 23rd March as a National Day of Remembrance for those lost to COVID.
