Company Interviews

Interview with Mark Chalmers, President & CEO of Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/9MMhS1rzKVc

Recording date: 23rd June 2023

Energy Fuels is a critical mineral company led by CEO Mark Chalmers, specializing in the production of uranium, rare earth elements, and isotopes such as radium-226. The company's focus lies in contributing to the decarbonization and electrification efforts. The US rare earths supply chain, long dominated by China, is undergoing changes, with Western companies and countries seeking to establish their own capabilities in this crucial sector. However, challenges such as skill sets and knowledge gaps need to be addressed. The fragmentation of the rare earth industry has led to smaller companies realizing the need for consolidation to achieve critical mass, expertise, and financing. The complexities and costs associated with rare earth mining and production are becoming apparent, causing longer timelines and higher funding requirements than initially anticipated. Governments are beginning to recognize the importance of supporting miners in the critical minerals space, but implementation and support measures are not yet aligned. Overall, the rare earth industry faces a growing supply-demand gap, urging companies to find innovative solutions and collaborate to ensure a sustainable future.

Interview with Martin Stein, CFO of Altech Batteries (ASX: ATC)

Recording date: 22nd June 2023

Altech Batteries Ltd is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS (“IKTS”) to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY® Sodium Chloride Solid State (SCSS) Battery

CERENERGY® batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY® batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns

The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY® battery, with plans to construct a 100Mwh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce 1,000 1MWh CERENERGY® battery GridPacks per annum to provide grid storage solutions to the market.

Interview with Maura Kolb, President, and Trey Wasser, CEO of Dryden Gold.

Recording date: 20th June 2023

Dryden Gold Corp is a private company that is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) in the near future. The company has focused its efforts on the Dryden camp, located in Northwestern Ontario, where it has consolidated a substantial property package. The primary objective of Dryden Gold is to explore and exploit the untapped potential of the gold-rich region.

Led by CEO Trey Wasser, the company is driven by the prospect of discovering high-grade gold deposits in an area that has been relatively underexplored. The property exhibits promising historical drill results, including an impressive intercept in 2011 that yielded 3,497 grams of gold over eight and a half meters. Such findings have bolstered the company's confidence in the value of the property.

Interview with James Sykes, CEO of Baselode Energy (TSX-V: FIND)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/dOYVjOoq-hw

Recording date: 20th June 2023

Baselode Energy (FIND) is an energy exploration company specializing in uranium mining. Based in Quebec City, the company is actively involved in multiple projects, with a particular emphasis on their flagship project, Ackio. Ackio holds immense potential to emerge as a significant uranium mine in the future.

Baselode Energy has initiated a drill program at Ackio, aiming to acquire crucial data and assess the mineralization in the region. The program is anticipated to conclude by September or October. Funding for the drill program has been secured, and the company expects that the results will positively impact their share price.

The company closely monitors the uranium market and maintains an optimistic outlook on nuclear energy. They are particularly intrigued by the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), which they believe can revolutionize the energy industry. Baselode Energy actively engages with individuals and groups sharing their pro-nuclear stance and is considering expanding their target audience to include anti-renewable proponents, especially in the United States.

As exploration activities progress, Baselode Energy is committed to keeping the market informed by regularly sharing radioactivity results and assay findings. They remain dedicated to advancing their projects and seeking additional exploration opportunities to drive future growth in the uranium sector.

Interview with Anthony Rovira, MD of Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/UM0tcpi_05k

Recording date: 21st June 2023

Azure Minerals is a mining company with a focus on lithium exploration and development. Based in Western Australia, the company has a promising lithium project located in the west Tilbury region. Over the years, Azure Minerals has transitioned its primary focus from battery metals like nickel, cobalt, and copper to lithium due to the market's strong demand for lithium resources.

The company's exploration efforts have been met with positive results. Azure Minerals discovered significant amounts of visible spodumene, a lithium-bearing mineral, within the pegmatites found in their project area. The market has responded favorably to these findings, prompting Azure Minerals to shift its attention towards further developing its lithium assets.

With the aim of confirming a potential exploration target of over 100 million tons of lithium resources, Azure Minerals has embarked on an extensive drilling program. Multiple diamond and RC (Reverse Circulation) rigs have been deployed to explore the mineralization potential of the Andover project. The company has seen notable intersections of mineralization in the pegmatites, including impressive lithium grades and true widths.

Interview with Philippe Cloutier, President & CEO of Cartier Resources (TSX-V:ECR)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/bEFv6520Ab0

Recording date: 20th June 2023

Cartier Resources (ECR) is a company focused on gold exploration in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Led by its President and CEO, Philippe Cloutier, the company is primarily engaged in developing its flagship project, the Chimo Mine property. Recently, they released a Preliminary Assessment (PA) for the project.

Despite the challenging market conditions, Cartier Resources remains dedicated to showcasing the value of its projects to investors. The CEO actively participates in meetings and industry events, where he exchanges ideas with other CEOs and learns from their experiences. These interactions serve as a platform for discussing strategies and exploring new business models.

The company emphasizes the importance of effectively presenting information to the market. Different approaches, such as leveraging the gold price angle, highlighting jurisdictional advantages, and capitalizing on opportunities for project optimization, are being considered to enhance their market appeal.

Interview with Francis Macdonald, CEO of Li-FT Power (CSE: LIFT)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/ImBw7FrCXaQ

Recording date: 20th June 2023

Li-FT Power (LIFT) is a company dedicated to the exploration and development of Hard Rock lithium deposits in Canada. Led by CEO Francis Macdonald, LIFT is focused on their Yellowknife lithium project, situated just outside the city of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. What sets their project apart is the presence of lithium deposits that are visibly protruding from the ground, making them easily identifiable even from satellite imagery.

With strong infrastructure in place, including a road that passes through seven lithium pegmatites, LIFT is strategically positioned to access and extract these valuable lithium resources. The company boasts a substantial cash reserve of approximately $44 million, providing them with the necessary funds to execute their plans.

LIFT has commenced an extensive drilling program, aiming to cover a distance of 45,000 meters. Initially starting with two rigs, they plan to scale up to six rigs by July, indicating their commitment to aggressive exploration and extraction efforts. While assay results are still pending, preliminary visual assessments of the core samples indicate the presence of spodumene pegmatite, which constitutes around 20% of the rock mass in certain areas. This high concentration of spodumene, a lithium-rich mineral, holds promising prospects for the project.

Interview with David Christie, President & CEO of Orford Mining (TSX-V:ORM)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/H6fvJILFySI

Recording date: 20th June 2023

Orford Mining (ORM) is a Canadian exploration company focused on the exploration and development of gold and critical minerals deposits in Quebec. Led by President and CEO David Christie, the company is actively involved in multiple projects that hold significant potential for resource discovery.

The company's portfolio consists of two gold projects and a nickel project, in addition to a new and promising lithium project. One of their key projects involves a partnership with Woulfe Metals, with the latter earning a 51% stake in a large nickel project. Orford Mining's primary focus is on exploring and expanding these projects to unlock their value.

The newly acquired lithium project spans an extensive area of 455 square kilometers in Quebec, characterized by exceptional Lake Bottom Center anomalies. Orford Mining intends to conduct a comprehensive summer program, including prospecting, sampling, and mapping activities, to identify and evaluate potential lithium deposits.

Interview with Robert Dufour, CFO of Signal Gold (TSX-V: SGNL)

Our previous interview: https://youtu.be/SS2IbZUxjZQ

Recording date: 20th June 2023

Signal Gold (SGNL) is a company focused on developing the historic high-grade Goldberg District in Nova Scotia. With the Goldberg project being the largest gold deposit in the region, SGNL is actively drilling to expand the scale of the project. They have received environmental assessment approval and are working on obtaining other necessary permits. In addition to their exploration efforts, SGNL is exploring alternative financing options and potential partnerships to advance the project. Despite challenges in the equity market, the company remains committed to unlocking the value of the project and attracting the right investors who share their vision.

Matt & Mark discuss the changing dynamics in the nickel market, particularly influenced by the actions of Russia and China. They mention the recent inflation data and the impact of US interest rates on nickel prices. There is a mention of Russian nickel shipments arriving in China and its effect on market conditions. Matt & Mark also highlight the compression of LME prices for NPI and sulfate, along with the normalization of discounts. They emphasize the national security concerns associated with Russia and China's collaboration in the commodities market, underscoring the need to diversify supply chains. Overall, their discussion sheds light on the current state of the nickel market and its geopolitical implications.