Company Interviews

Interview with Christian Easterday, CEO & Managing Director of Hot Chili Ltd. (ASX:HCH)

Hot Chili Ltd (ASX/TSXV: HCH, OTCQX: HHLKF) is well positioned to benefit from the looming structural shortfall in the most critical commodity of them all – copper.  The Company aims to build shareholder value through the growth and development of its high-quality Costa Fuego copper project, located in a low elevation and accessible region of northern Chile.  Costa Fuego is rated by S&P Global Market Intelligence (2022) as one of the top 10 “low risk” undeveloped copper projects globally.

With substantial mineral resources already defined and an active drill program testing new targets underway, Hot Chili provides substantial leverage to the copper price due to the size, quality and low economic hurdle location of its resource base. Costa Fuego has an indicated resource of 2.8Mt Cu, 2.6Moz Au and 67kt of Mo (in 725Mt) and inferred resource of 0.6 Mt Cu, 1.2 Moz Au and 13kt Mo (in 202Mt).  

Hot Chili recently obtained secondary listings on the TSXV and OTCQX to better align with the exchanges of its global copper peer group.  The Company aims to narrow the relative valuation gap between large Australian copper developers and their North American listed peers, particularly as the general market starts to appreciate the medium term structural deficit in copper – the critical commodity – and the copper price required to incentivize new production.

Interview with Frank Basa, President and CEO of Granada Gold Mine (TSX-V: GGM)

Granada Gold Mine Inc. continues to develop and explore its 100% owned Granada Gold Property near Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, and is adjacent to the prolific Cadillac Break. The Company owns 14.73 square kilometers of land in a combination of mining leases and claims. The company is currently undergoing a large drill program with 30,000m out of 120,000m complete. The drills are currently paused to provide the technical team with the necessary time to evaluate and assimilate existing data.

Interview with Robin Dunbar, President & CEO of Grid Metals (TSX-V: GRDM)

Grid Metals (GRDM) is a Canadian-based junior exploration company focused on advancing their lithium project located in southeast Manitoba. With a strategic approach to production, they aim to obtain necessary permits and leverage toll milling operations to minimize infrastructure costs. The company is in the process of submitting an application for an advanced exploration permit for a bulk sample, receiving positive feedback from government and local stakeholders. They plan to send the bulk sample to the Tanco mine for processing, focusing on high-grade lithium resources. Grid Metals aims to become a North American supplier of spodumene concentrate, generating short-term cash flow while positioning themselves as a long-term player in the industry.

Interview with Dan Noone, CEO of G2 Goldfields Inc. (TSX-V:GTWO)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/S0A7wK-xmPs

Recording date: 26th June 2023

G2 Goldfields (GTWO) is an exploration company primarily engaged in gold exploration activities in Guyana. Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GTWO, the company has made significant discoveries of high-grade gold deposits in the region. Their main focus is on a high-grade gold camp known as the OKO Main Zone, where they have identified a combined resource of 1.2 million ounces of gold at an impressive grade of approximately 9 grams per tonne.

In addition to their success at the OKO Main Zone, G2 Goldfields has also made a new discovery in the Ghanie area, situated to the south of the OKO Main Zone. The company has adopted an aggressive exploration approach, actively investigating the 17-kilometer trend between the OKO Main Zone and the Aremu district. This strategic exploration effort aims to uncover further high-grade gold deposits within this extensive area.

G2 Goldfields maintains a strong focus on drilling and extracting high-grade zones within the hanging wall, which exhibits gold mineralization averaging around 6 meters in width and 12 grams per tonne. They also benefit from the presence of lower-grade zones in the hanging wall, which can be open-pit mined, thereby reducing overall mining costs. The company firmly believes that high-grade mineralization and rapid payback are essential for successful operations in greenfield districts.

Interview with Gerald Panneton, Executive Chairman and CEO of Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSX-V: YGT)

Gold Terra Resource Corp (YGT) is a mining company dedicated to unlocking the vast gold potential in the Yellowknife Camp, located in the Northwest Territory of Canada. With a history of 14 million ounces of gold production, the company is focused on strategic drilling to expand their resource base. By targeting high-grade areas and utilizing their in-ground infrastructure, YGT aims to maximize value for their shareholders. Through ongoing exploration and a commitment to unlocking the district-scale potential of the region, Gold Terra Resource Corp is poised for continued growth and success in the gold mining industry.

Interview with Claudia Tornquist, President & CEO of Kodiak Copper (TSX-V:KDK)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/HphInI5rYDE

Recording date: 26th June 2023

Kodiak Copper (KDK) is a copper exploration company focused on discovering and developing copper deposits. Led by Claudia Tornquist, the President and CEO, Kodiak Copper is primarily engaged in the MPD project located in southern British Columbia. The company was founded and chaired by Chris Taylor, known for his involvement with Great Bear Resources.

Their flagship project, MPD, has shown significant promise since the initial discovery made in 2020. The gate zone, a high-grade copper center, has been expanded to a length of one kilometer, width of 350 meters, and depth of 900 meters. This substantial copper profile has sparked excitement, leading to a 25,000-meter drill program in progress.

With a focus on exploration, Kodiak Copper aims to test various targets beyond the gate zone to make new discoveries. The company's strategy involves following a similar model that proved successful at the gate zone, drilling below shallow mineralization to uncover higher-grade deposits. By demonstrating the scale and potential of their project, Kodiak Copper seeks to attract attention from larger mining companies and foster growth in the copper mining sector.

Interview with Marcel Robillard, President and CEO of Puma Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:PUMA)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/CIMLvAxfvnI

Recording date: 26th June 2023

Puma Exploration (PUMA) is an exploration company focused on discovering high-grade gold deposits in Northern New Brunswick, Canada. They have conducted extensive drilling programs, including a major program in 2022 involving drilling 10,000 meters and 100 holes. The drilling has targeted the extension of the high-grade gold zone from surface to a depth of about 200 meters.

Through their drilling efforts, Puma Exploration has identified additional gold lenses at surface, extending over three kilometers. They plan to concentrate their upcoming drilling program on these newly discovered areas, aiming to further expand the known gold zones along the strike length.

The gold grades in the project exhibit variability along the strike length, with both high-grade and low-grade sections. This variability can be attributed to factors such as the presence of nuggets and variations in the contact zone and foliation. Puma Exploration acknowledges the importance of understanding the structural aspects of the deposits and has incorporated structural information derived from their drilling activities.

Interview with Lara Smith, Executive Director & CEO of Molten Metals (CSE: MOLT)

Recording date: 26th June 2023

Incorporated in 2021, Molten Metals is a development company engaged in producing the lesser-known battery elements such as Antimony (Sb) and Tin (Sn). As such the company is focused on reactivating and expanding past producing and producing mines. Molten Metals’ first target was the West Gore antimony/gold mine in Nova Scotia, Canada. The company then incorporated Slovak Antimony Corporation, with the aim of reactivating antimony mines in Slovakia. During the time of the USSR, Slovakia was a known antimony hub. Now a member of the EU, the European Union is actively seeking ways support economic development in the country. Molten Metals intends to roll up past producing and producing Antimony mines with the stated objective of producing 6-8% of the global antimony demand over the medium term.

Interview with Hayden Locke, President & CEO of Marimaca Copper (TSX-V: MARI)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/ZDoJhJln5AE

Recording date: 26th June 2023

Marimaca Copper, a mining company, has recently formed a significant strategic partnership with Mitsubishi, a prominent global corporation. As part of the deal, Mitsubishi will invest $20 million to acquire a 5% stake in Marimaca Copper. This investment marks a notable shift in Mitsubishi's investment strategy, as they have traditionally focused on larger copper projects. However, Marimaca Copper's sustainability credentials and potential as a low-carbon copper project have caught Mitsubishi's attention.

The partnership with Mitsubishi brings a range of benefits for Marimaca Copper. Apart from the financial investment, Mitsubishi's involvement provides validation for the project and opens up opportunities for access to Japanese import-export credit agencies. This access to cheap debt financing could prove advantageous for Marimaca Copper in its development plans.

Marimaca Copper is now poised to concentrate on obtaining the necessary permits and conducting the definitive feasibility study. The company aims to deliver these milestones promptly, positioning the project for near-term copper production. Additionally, Marimaca Copper plans to continue its regional exploration efforts to identify further mineral reserves and extend the project's lifespan. The company's ongoing collaboration with technical partners and the implementation of new technologies are expected to enhance operational efficiency and potentially revolutionize the industry.

Overall, the partnership between Marimaca Copper and Mitsubishi reflects a mutual recognition of the project's potential and aligns with the growing importance of sustainability and environmentally conscious practices in the mining sector. The collaboration between the two companies highlights the evolving landscape of copper investments and signifies Marimaca Copper's emergence as a standout player in the industry.