In a conversation with InvestorNews host Tracy Weslosky, Rowena Smith, the Managing Director of Australian Strategic Materials Ltd. (ASX: ASM), highlighted the company’s innovative edge in the rare earth sector. Smith detailed ASM’s end-to-end approach from mining to metal production, underscoring its capability to control the entire supply chain outside China—a key differentiator in the market. She also pointed to the operational success of the Korean Metals Plant (KMP), which is already producing essential rare earth metals and alloys. Smith mentioned plans to expand KMP’s production to include heavy rare earths, reinforcing ASM’s competitive advantage and commitment to technological advancement.

Smith also delved into the technological innovations at the KMP, showcasing ASM’s forefront position in metallurgical advancements. The KMP’s current production of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) and the development of neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) alloys are pivotal for high-performance magnets used in renewable energy and electric vehicles. This technological edge not only demonstrates ASM’s capacity to meet critical global demands but also reinforces its role as a leader in reducing dependency on the conventional rare earth supply chains. Smith’s narrative underscores ASM’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, highlighting its readiness to meet the increasing demands for rare earth elements critical to modern technology and green energy solutions.

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About Australian Strategic Materials Ltd.

Australian Strategic Materials (ASX: ASM) is a vertically integrated ‘mine to metals’ producer of critical metals for new growth industries, high technologies and sustainable energy solutions. ASM operates a metals plant in in Ochang, South Korea which is currently producing critical metals and alloys to customer specifications. The initial production focus is on neodymium praseodymium (NdPr) and neodymium iron boron (NdFeB). Currently, ASM sources the rare earth oxides for the production of the critical metals at its Korean Metals Plant (KMP) from a third party located in Vietnam. The company’s Dubbo Project, is a long-term resource of rare earth elements, zirconium, niobium and hafnium, located in New South Wales, Australia. ASM intends to develop the Dubbo Project to produce metal oxides which will be used for refining into critical metals at ASM’s KMP and subsequent plants that may be established in other jurisdictions.

To learn more about Australian Strategic Materials Limited, click here

Disclaimer: Australian Strategic Materials Limited is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc. (“InvestorNews”), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all material information concerning the Company, including important disclosure and risk factors associated with the Company, its business and an investment in its securities. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This interview and any transcriptions or reproductions thereof (collectively, this “presentation”) does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company. The information in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only and may be subject to updating, completion or revision, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any information herein. This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. This presentation should not be considered as the giving of investment advice by the Company or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors. Each person to whom this presentation is made available must make its own independent assessment of the Company after making such investigations and taking such advice as may be deemed necessary. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on SedarPlus.ca and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

During an interview at PDAC 2024 in Toronto, Jack Lifton of InvestorNews sat down with Rowena Smith, the Managing Director of Australian Strategic Materials Ltd. (ASX: ASM), to delve into the company’s position and strategic initiatives within the rare earths and permanent magnet supply chain. Smith elucidated ASM’s comprehensive strategy, spanning from “mine to metal,” highlighting their advanced development project in Dubbo, New South Wales, and their operational metals plant in South Korea. The company has successfully commenced production of neodymium praseodymium (NdPr) metal and neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) strip alloy, which are essential components for sintered magnets used across various technological applications. Smith proudly noted ASM’s pioneering role as the first Australian entity and one of the few globally to achieve such depth in the supply chain outside of China, emphasizing the critical nature of their work in diversifying the global supply chain and reducing dependence on single-source suppliers.

Smith also detailed the Dubbo Project’s progress, underlining its pivotal role in ASM’s mine-to-metals business model for supplying rare earths and critical minerals. Funding and securing off-take agreements are current priorities, with the project’s engineering, exploration, and permitting stages already completed. Smith’s participation in a U.S. trade delegation and discussions with U.S. government departments reflect a strong international interest in funding the project. These interactions highlight the alignment between Australian and U.S. interests in establishing a sustainable and transparent critical minerals supply chain. ASM’s engagement with various U.S. government agencies and the passage of legislation recognizing Australia as a ‘domestic source’ for U.S. Department of Defense procurement showcases the international efforts to bolster critical mineral supply chains outside of China. The company’s ongoing discussions for offtake agreements and advancements in metallization capability at the Korean Metals Plant further underscore ASM’s commitment to securing a robust position within the global supply chain of rare earth metals and alloys.

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About Australian Strategic Materials Ltd.

Australian Strategic Materials (ASX: ASM) is a vertically integrated ‘mine to metals’ producer of critical metals for new growth industries, high technologies and sustainable energy solutions. ASM operates a metals plant in in Ochang, South Korea which is currently producing critical metals and alloys to customer specifications. The initial production focus is on neodymium praseodymium (NdPr) and neodymium iron boron (NdFeB). Currently, ASM sources the rare earth oxides for the production of the critical metals at its Korean Metals Plant (KMP) from a third party located in Vietnam. The company’s Dubbo Project, is a long-term resource of rare earth elements, zirconium, niobium and hafnium, located in New South Wales, Australia. ASM intends to develop the Dubbo Project to produce metal oxides which will be used for refining into critical metals at ASM’s KMP and subsequent plants that may be established in other jurisdictions.

To learn more about Australian Strategic Materials Limited, click here

Disclaimer: Australian Strategic Materials Limited is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc. (“InvestorNews”), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all material information concerning the Company, including important disclosure and risk factors associated with the Company, its business and an investment in its securities. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This interview and any transcriptions or reproductions thereof (collectively, this “presentation”) does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company. The information in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only and may be subject to updating, completion or revision, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any information herein. This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. This presentation should not be considered as the giving of investment advice by the Company or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors. Each person to whom this presentation is made available must make its own independent assessment of the Company after making such investigations and taking such advice as may be deemed necessary. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on SedarPlus.ca and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

August 28, 2023 — Enjoying the new name for InvestorIntel, we are in the final countdown for a formal rebranding as InvestorNews. Also, in appreciating our Trending section, the #1 most read column right now is about Zentek Ltd. (NASDAQ: ZTEK | TSXV: ZEN), read: Revolutionary Aptamer-Based Pathogen Technology from Zentek Unveils Rapid and Inexpensive Pathogen Detection Capabilities.  

Also, started my morning with the commentator on the Australian Strategic Materials Ltd. (ASX: ASM) interview that the Critical Minerals Institute Co-Chairman Jack Lifton had with Rowena Smith that I would like to share with you. The commentator writes: “Wow that was a really great interview. I don’t understand why ASM isn’t on people’s radar and in particular Australia’s financial press has been missing in action. Hopefully, this interview will be the start of the re-rating of ASM’s achievements. When I talk to other investors in the REE space I haven’t had anyone spontaneously mention ASM.” This interview may be accessed on our Investor.Coffee YouTube channel and is titled — Redefining Rare Earths Supply Chain: A Conversation with ASM’s Rowena Smith.

Now onto the markets today, which according to the emails we receive daily have been summarized as follows — :

The markets have seen minimal fluctuations in recent times, with primary attention being centered on the impending economic data from Canada from this morning’s incoming sources. The anticipatory mood seems prevalent across global markets. Notably, U.S. stock index futures experienced a surge as crucial inflation and employment figures loom large. European technology stocks demonstrated an impressive performance, while in Asia, the Nikkei of Japan posted its most significant daily growth in two months.

In monetary matters, there has been a slide in the value of the U.S. dollar. This comes after Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve Chair, indicated the potential for more rate hikes. Conversely, the euro, sensitive to Chinese market dynamics, enjoyed a slight uptick, following Beijing’s decision to reduce stamp duty on stock trades by half.

However, looming concerns persist in the global economic atmosphere. Record-high government debts combined with geopolitical strains, which jeopardize the cohesion of the global trade structure, paint a bleak picture. Furthermore, the continued lag in productivity gains hints at a future of sluggish growth, possibly hindering the developmental progress of certain nations.

This week’s spotlight will shine brightly on Canada’s Q2 GDP report, expected to unveil on Friday. Predictions from a Reuters survey of economists indicate a probable deceleration in economic expansion. Such a trend might make the Bank of Canada reconsider its stance on interest rate increments, even amidst mounting inflationary pressures.

In the automotive sector, Unifor, a Canadian union, recently announced that its members have greenlit strike mandates against the three primary Detroit automakers. This move empowers their negotiation teams to resort to job actions if deemed necessary to ensure equitable collective agreements.

In global stock market news, European futures, including the Euro STOXX 50 and German DAX, saw a rise in their early GMT trades. While Japanese shares rallied, concerns over a Chinese product ban impacted their tourism-related stocks adversely.

Oil prices, on the other hand, displayed marginal dips, attributed to apprehensions about China’s economic growth pace and potential U.S. rate hikes that might suppress fuel demand. The U.S. markets echoed a similar sentiment, with a modest rise in futures after Jerome Powell’s recent address, stressing the persistently high inflation rates.

From the corporate world, the UAW union at Ultium Cells (a collaboration between General Motors and LG Energy Solution in Ohio) publicized their members’ overwhelming approval of an interim pact that proposes a wage increase.

In other international news:

• China Evergrande Group, a globally renowned property developer, saw its shares plummet by almost 87%. This follows the company’s bankruptcy filing in the U.S. after a default last year and debt restructuring efforts earlier this year.
• A recent plane crash reportedly claimed the life of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, confirmed by Russian genetic tests.
• The U.S. emphasizes the paramount importance of a stable economic bond with China, as iterated by U.S. Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo.
• Credit Suisse, now under UBS, reported a substantial loss in Q2 2023.
• BP underscores the necessity for investment in oil and gas production parallelly with efforts to expedite the energy transition to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
• Spanish investor Asterion clinches a deal with German utility Steag, directing the latter towards a greener future.

Stay tuned for more insights and updates on the global market here on InvestorNews!

InvestorTalk Disclaimer: The global financial spectrum is a vibrant mix of data, strategies, and forecasts. As the world watches, the financial domain remains ever-evolving and unpredictable, the global financial arena remains a complex interplay of a wide range of data and information. The InvestorTalk daily market update is an effort to organize the substantial accumulation of data sent to me and turn it into a summary of highlights intended for daily thought and collaboration as we move into our day. This editor is not an investment advisor and is neither offering buy or sell recommendations. The daily InvestorTalk series offers a data summary from information received by this editor. For more information or to send me more information, email [email protected]. Thank you.

In a recent InvestorNews interview, Tracy Weslosky had a conversation with Australian Strategic Materials Limited’s (“ASM”) (ASX: ASM) Managing Director and CEO Rowena Smith, delving into the company’s new ventures and its unique positioning in the rare earths market.

The spotlight was on ASM’s groundbreaking deal with USA Rare Earths LLC, marked by a five-year supply arrangement. ASM is set to provide 60% of feedstock for USA Rare Earths’ Stillwater facility in Oklahoma, USA, aligning with its commissioning in the coming year. This collaboration, with the potential to ramp up to 4800 tons per annum, reflects ASM’s pivotal role in global rare earths supply chain.

Smith rekindled the excitement around ASM’s Dubbo project in New South Wales. This construction-ready ore body stands out for its tier one jurisdiction and potential for rapid production. With all necessary engineering, environmental approvals, and off-take discussions in progress, the project’s uniqueness stems from its resource diversity. The project encapsulates not only light and heavy rare earths but also other critical minerals such as zirconia, hafnium, and niobium, intensifying ASM’s allure.

An impressive distinction for ASM is its comprehensive strategy encompassing mining to metal production. Their Korean Metals Plant, already operational, is initially focused on neodymium and neodymium iron boron alloys, catering to specialized permanent magnet manufacturing. To access the complete interview, click here

Don’t miss other InvestorNews interviews. Subscribe to the InvestorNews YouTube channel by clicking here

To learn more about Australian Strategic Materials Limited, click here

Disclaimer: Australian Strategic Materials Limited. is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc., does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

Australian Strategic Materials Ltd. (ASX: ASM) has accomplished the execution of a business model first described by Canada’s former Great Western Minerals and then appropriated by the (second) American Molycorp, neither of which could ultimately pull it off – the vertical integration of a critical mineral producer from the mine to the finished mass-produced product ready for end-user product fabrication.

For ASM the first integrated production will be of rare earth metals, titanium, and zirconium, the mineral supply chain for each of them originates with the company’s Australian mining operation, and the final processing to metals is done in a Korean joint venture, already proven at the pilot plant level and with a full-scale plant being contracted for with Hyundai Engineering.

I have no doubts that the entire output of ASM’s Korean operations will be sold into the Korean market. The sister company of Hyundai Engineering, Hyundai Motors, is already mass producing a low-cost battery powered EV, which needs rare earth permanent magnet electric motors made independently of Chinese critical metals.

The Korean nuclear power industry needs zirconium (and its sister metal, hafnium [also to be produced by ASM in Korea]) for the cladding of fuel rods. And the Korean domestic armaments industry needs rare earth permanent magnet motors and titanium for its aircraft and shipbuilding (Korea’s first full-scale aircraft carrier is now being planned).

ASM, having now structured its total supply chain for critical metals, just last week installed a new CEO, its former COO, Rowena Smith, who has almost 30 years of global mining experience in strategic planning and mineral processing with senior mining corporations, including roles at South 32, Rio Tinto, and BHP. Previous CEO David Woodall abruptly stepped down from his roles and left the company.

It’s important at this point to understand the significance of the replacement of now former CEO, David Woodall, by former COO, now CEO, Rowena Smith. Those who plan wars, or even battles, rarely carry them out. During David Woodall’s tenure, the vertical integration of ASM was planned and the component ventures were acquired, modified and themselves integrated. During that time Rowena Smith, as COO, familiarized herself with the plan, helped to implement it, and took over the day-to-day operations of the system as it matured. She has overseen areas of the Dubbo project and the Korean Metals Plant. Last week the board of the company determined that ASM was ready for her operationally-experienced and skilled management to assume overall control, and the management change was implemented.

ASM is now the first non-Chinese company to complete a vertically integrated business model from the mine through to the production of high purity critical metals for the EV, shipbuilding, aerospace, and nuclear industries.

ASM is Australian-owned and sited, and its first customers are in Korea.

The rest of the non-Chinese mining and processing world should look closely at this success and emulate this model.