Rooster Talk: Blackstone Minerals' nickel sulphide downstream story in Vietnam - Ta Khoa Project

Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX:BSX) is busy drilling away at the Ta Khoa Nickel-PGE Project while creating a downstream strategy that will add significant shareholder value. Scott Williamson, Managing Director of Blackstone sat with us at the RIU Sydney Conference to give an update on the drilling that is happening in Ta Khao and how the downstream business is progressing. Many companies are playing the downstream business but I feel that the key ingredient is to have a practical source that can be delivered profitably.  I think this vital element has been downplayed by many other stories that are out there in the marketplace. I have been a champion of the Ta Khoa project since it was on the very first Coffee with Samso many moons ago - (Blackstone Minerals Limited - Not just mining Nickel).  I believe that in time, this will be well resourced and the ability to extract the nickel will proceed.  To me, this is a critical element in ensuring that the downstream business is well fed. This is why I feel that Blackstone will be an investment that will become safer and clearer to those that are still sitting on the side lines.  The other important element of the business is the geographic location.  The third is the existing partners that are already in play. Watch this episode and I hope valuable insights will be your takeaways.  Please continue to interact with Samso and let us know your thoughts on this episode and other upcoming episodes of Rooster Talks and Coffee with Samso. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:35 What is happening in Vietnam 01:36 Downstream Business is here to stay 03:44 The importance of your own product source 05:50 The busy drilling program in Vietnam 07:07 Low cost of working in Vietnam 08:43 News flow for Blackstone 10:34 What is a "Train" ? 12:16 Spin out from Blackstone Minerals - Codres Resources Limited (ASX: CDR) 12:49 Conclusion PODCAST About Scott Williamson Managing Director Blackstone Minerals Limited Qualifications: BEng (Mining), BCom, MAusIMM Scott Williamson is an experienced Managing Director with a demonstrated history of working in the mining and metals industry. He is skilled in Open Pit and Underground Mining, Corporate Finance, Investor Relations and Project Planning. A strong business development professional with equity capital markets experience, Scott graduated from West Australian School of Mines and Curtin University of Technology. Scott holds a WA First Class Mine Manager’s Certificate and is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. 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. The Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project The Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project is located 160 km 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.   In the Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project, previous project owners invested more than US$136m in capital and generated US$213m in revenue during a 3.5-year period of falling nickel prices. The project was placed into care and maintenance in mid-2016 during some of the lowest nickel prices in the past 10 years. Existing infrastructure associated with the project includes an internationally-designed 450 ktpa processing plant connected to local hydro grid power with a fully-permitted tailings facility and a modern 250-person camp. Since commencing maiden drilling in August 2019, Blackstone Minerals has made significant progress at Ta Khoa, drilling over 9,000 m of diamond core in more than 47 holes into the Ban Phuc DSS deposit and the highly prospective King Cobra discovery zone. An initial scoping study evaluating mining and processing options is well advanced, including potential in-country downstream processing to deliver high-value nickel sulfate into Asia’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) industry. The recently announced MOU with Asia’s largest and the world’s second-largest EV battery cathode manufacturer, Ecopro BM Co Limited represents a significant step towards making this a reality. Please let Samso know your thoughts and send any comments to info@Samso.com.au. Remember to Subscribe to the YouTube Channel, Samso Media and the mail list to stay informed and make comments where appropriate. Other than that, also feel free to provide a Review on Google. For further information about Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talks visit: www.samso.com.au About Samso Samso is a renowned resource among the investment community for keen market analysis and insights into the companies and business trends that matter. Investors seek out Samso for knowledgeable evaluations of current industry developments across a variety of business sectors and considered forecasts of future performances. With a compelling format of relaxed online video interviews, Samso provides clear answers to questions they may not have the opportunity to ask and lays out the big picture to help them complete their investment research. And in doing so, Samso also enables companies featured in interviews to build valuable engagement with their investment communities and customers. Headed by industry veteran Noel Ong and based in Perth, Western Australia, Samso’s Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talk interviews both feature friendly conversations with business figures that give insights into Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) companies, related concepts and industry trends. Noel Ong is a geologist with nearly 30 years of industry experience and a strong background in capital markets, corporate finance and the mineral resource sector. He was founder and managing director of ASX-listed company Siburan Resources Limited from 2009-2017 and has also been involved in several other ASX listings, providing advice, procuring projects and helping to raise capital. He brings all this experience and expertise to the Samso interviews, where his engaging conversation style creates a relaxed dialogue, revealing insights that can pique investor interest. Noel Ong travels across Australia to record the interviews, only requiring a coffee shop environment where they can be set up. The interviews are posted on Samso’s website and podcasts, YouTube and other relevant online environments where they can be shared among investment communities. Samso also has a track record of developing successful business concepts in the Australasia region and provides bespoke research and counsel to businesses seeking to raise capital and procuring projects for ASX listings. Disclaimer The information contained in this article is the writer’s personal opinion and is provided for information only and is not intended to or nor will it create/induce the creation of any binding legal relations. Read full disclaimer.