Coffee with Samso Episode 107 is with Tony Tang, General Manager of Project Development for the downstream business of Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX). This is Part 3 of a 4-part Blackstone series - giving you deeper insights into the Blackstone Minerals company.
When companies such as Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX:BSX) are at this stage of the business, many investors lose patience. So what I tell people is this:
This is the best time to be accumulating stock. You are now at the "Sure Thing" part of the market.
People such as Tony Tang are the reasons why investors should see this period of "boredom" as a great time to learn about the business and take position. There has been a fair level of de-risking taking place and the market has taken a turn for the better.
Nickel pricing is buoyant and most importantly, the future looks bright and secure.
In this episode, Tony Tang, the General Manager of Downstream Project Development, shares with us how Blackstone is making this business bulletproof. Tony tells us that the chemistry, the cooking process of making nickel products is like the simple art of making coffee.
The process, from growing the beans to making that perfect brew for you, is the same as what is happening in Vietnam. The precision, the masterful cooking process of making sure all the finer elements are measured and calculated to make sure the end product is of the highest quality is second to none.
What is also important is to ensure that the team works as one to create a cost efficient and ESG compliant process. Impressively, the team members are all singing from the same song sheet and have ESG instilled in their DNA. There is a belief and understanding that this business is one that is made to work for all involved and not just for the market.
Tune in to find out how Tony Tang and his Blackstone team make the best Coffee in Vietnam and serve it up as a quality brew for the world market.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:03 Tony introduces himself
01:36 The difference between Massive and Disseminated Sulphides.
02:54 What is happening with the Blackstone business now.
04:59 The process is like cooking a great meal.
06:47 Mastering the Art of Making the Best Coffee.
09:15 Is it a good thing to have both massive and disseminated nickel ore?
10:41 Are there any nasty elements in the ore?
12:22 What are the technical hurdles for the downstream business?
14:10 Any people sourcing issues?
15:58 Are there any jurisdiction issues for the Blackstone Business?
17:18 Is having the ability to speak Vietnamese an advantage?
19:05 It is all about the people of the business.
20:51 The ESG DNA in the Blackstone business.
22:56 Is Blackstone doing anything different?
25:37 How does Blackstone do the Downstream business?
27:58 How Green is the business?
30:56 Is the business easy?
32:52 Conclusion
PODCAST
About Tony Tang
General Manager - Project Development (Downstream)
Blackstone Minerals Limited
FAusIMM(CP)
BSc Chemical and Metallurgy
Cert IV frontline Management - Project Management
HAZID, HAZOP, CHAZOP facilitator/leader
As a highly-experienced hydrometallurgical engineer, Tony is instrumental to Blackstone's plans to expand downstream refining capacity and technical capability. His experience is invaluable to Blackstone’s Downstream Business Unit (DBU), which includes plans to attract customers, design and construct a pilot plant in Vietnam, and ensure NCM precursor production meets battery-grade specification.
Tony Tang has vast experience in commodities like nickel, cobalt, scandium, gold, silver, copper, rare earth, lithium, and minerals sand and is a pioneer of nickel processing solutions and has led several R&D initiatives in connection to the lithium-ion battery industry, spanning across laboratories, operations, engineering consultancies – projects development, studies, EPC, EPCM, sustaining capitals and commissioning.
Since 1995, Mr Tang has been extensively involved in multiple second generation HPAL nickel and cobalt laterite projects. Mr Tang worked at Murrin Murrin Operations for nearly a decade where he was involved in commissioning, operations, plant optimisation and ongoing R&Ds projects.
About Blackstone Minerals Limited
Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX: BSX) is developing the district-scale Ta Khoa Project in Northern Vietnam where the company is drilling out the large-scale Ban Phuc Nickel-PGE deposit. The Ta Khoa Nickel-PGE Project has existing modern mine infrastructures built to International Standards including a 450ktpa processing plant and permitted mine facilities.
Blackstone Minerals also owns a large landholding at the Gold Bridge project within the BC porphyry belt in British Columbia, Canada with large scale drill targets prospective for high-grade gold-cobalt-copper mineralisation. In Australia, Blackstone Minerals is exploring for nickel and gold in the Eastern Goldfields and gold in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Blackstone Minerals has a board and management team with a proven track record of mineral discovery and corporate success.
Blackstone Minerals Key Projects
Vietnam
The Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project is located 160km west of Hanoi in the Son La Province of Vietnam and includes an existing modern nickel mine built to Australian Standards, which is currently under care and maintenance. The Ban Phuc nickel mine successfully operated as a mechanised underground nickel mine from 2013 to 2016.
Canada
The Gold Bridge Project was discovered in the 1930’s by prospectors identifying a pink cobalt-bloom on weathered mineralization that led to three adits being developed. A total of 1,268 m of drilling was completed from underground and detailed channel sampling was taken from the adits. Results from this work generated some exceptional Cobalt and Gold assays with average grades of 3.0% Cobalt and 20g/t Gold.
Disclaimer
The information or opinions provided herein do not constitute investment advice, an offer or solicitation to subscribe for, purchase or sell the investment product(s) mentioned herein. It does not take into consideration, nor have any regard to your specific investment objectives, financial situation, risk profile, tax position and particular, or unique needs and constraints. Read full Disclaimer.
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