We Visited 7 Mines in Africa. Here's What We Found
After visiting 7 mines across South Africa and Zambia in 10 days, we unpack the biggest takeaways while waiting to board our flight home.
From massive copper and operations to PGM shafts, gold tailings plays, enormous coal mines, the trip challenged some of our long-held assumptions.
We discuss why Africa may be mispriced as a mining jurisdiction, the reality of costs, productivity and logistics, and where some investment opportunities sit.
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TIMESTAMPS
(0:00) Airport Trip Recap
(2:30) Bullish Africa and PGMs
(7:20) Costs, Power, Productivity, Logistics
(12:30) Zambia Copper
(17:50) DRD Gold
(18:40) ZCCM
(22:50) Scaling Mines and Electrification
(30:00) Trip Highlights
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DISCLAIMER
All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only and is of general nature only.
Please ensure you read our full disclaimer.
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JD Money Miners don't know what
we're doing right now, but we're
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at the airport.
We've just finished seeing 7
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mines in 10 days all throughout
Africa.
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JD We started out, we visited
Ivanhoes, Ivan Platz's plant
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reef project.
Then we went to.
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Pronounce the next one.
Mate Izaro's grut the gluk.
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Grut the gluk.
Grut the Gluk massive coal mine
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second largest coal mine in the
world out of.
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America, the biggest, biggest
coal mine in the world outside
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of the America is just enormous
scale.
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And then we saw another
colliery.
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We went to Kanye that belongs to
Menard.
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So some of the the money miners
might remember we interviewed Vu
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Slat a bit over a year ago.
That's the the man who heads up
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these operations.
From there mate W wits, we
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checked out their koala shallows
mine.
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Very very new.
What's happening there?
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Yeah, poured first gold last
month.
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Pretty cool little operation on
the VIT.
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Borders run from there, mate.
We went to Zambia and had the
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absolute luxury of checking out
First Quantum's enormous copper
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operations there, being Sentinel
and Consanci and also.
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Enterprise that.
Don't forget enterprise mate.
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Nickel mine.
Money miners this episode in the
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1 1/2 hours that we've got
before boarding, hopefully we,
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we have, we have enough time,
mate.
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But we're going to tell you what
we what our big takeaways were
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from our trip to to Africa and
hopefully you learn something.
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From via our takeaways.
So obviously we've been, we've
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been thinking lots, what's the
investment angle, what's kind of
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interesting, what's different,
what sticks out to us from the
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the 10 odd days you mentioned 7
or 8 minds that we saw, we must
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have driven past at least 30
more, flown over countless more,
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you know, flying over Lumwana,
some of the biggest mines in the
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world, just fantastic to kind of
see.
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And we were, we're trying to
figure things out, right?
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We're trying to answer a few
questions for ourselves.
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Is Zambia investable?
Is South Africa investable?
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How does it compare to
Australia?
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What a quality mining operations
really look like?
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What is the, what is the scale,
you know, from much smaller
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operations that we saw all the
way through to those big
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behemoths.
So we were keen just to to have
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a chat about it and and share a
few of the our takeaways with
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each other and ask a few
questions.
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So I'm keen.
I'm keen to know what your
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takeaways are, mate.
Maybe we've got different
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takeaways.
We'll, you know, we, we'll,
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we'll find out on the fly.
I'll tell you what my first one
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was.
All right, let's go.
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I'm bullish Africa just in
general, I'm, I'm bullish Africa
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as an investment jurisdiction
relative to I think what, what
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the investment market, you know,
discounts this jurisdiction as I
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think, I think there's like a,
an incredibly punitive discount
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rate applied to, to investing in
Africa.
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And I know there's like
investing in Africa is not the
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same everywhere.
But like specifically speaking
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to the two jurisdictions that we
spent time in being South Africa
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and Zambia.
I'm, I'm, I'm very bullish then
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relative to what what the
investment landscape like
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discounts those jurisdictions.
Are yeah, absolutely.
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I think South Africa really
sticks out because people don't
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touch it, people don't go near
it.
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And anecdotally, we heard from
some of the people that do
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operate here, they kind of like
it that way.
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They don't like people coming in
on, on their turf.
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It works for them.
The, the rule of law, the mining
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code has, you know, it, it is
undergoing a, a couple changes
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right now, but it's largely been
the same for a long time.
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And the same can't be said for a
lot of other parts of the world.
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And if we dig in more
specifically, we saw coal mines,
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we saw PGM operations with, with
base metals attached to it, We
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saw gold mines.
And I want to hone in on PGM
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specifically because that is
like a trade we've been, we've
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been in on, we've been
enthusiastic about and it's one
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we've educated ourselves a bit
more on.
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Sinking shafts is an art form
and it's bloody hard work.
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And across the whole Bushfield
complex, East, West and N,
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there's only really been a
couple that have been done in
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the last 20 ish kind of years.
We saw, as you mentioned, Ivan
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Platts.
And we're going to overlay some
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some videos for those watching
because it is massive what
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they've built, you know, coming
coming on with the the third
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shaft now getting into it.
Will be massive.
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It's pretty.
It's modest at the moment.
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Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's 110th of what the total
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output is gonna be in time.
But steps are being made.
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It's we've seen a a kind of
pilot plant with the the outline
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of free shafts and things are
things are happening there very
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exciting.
But it just goes to show like
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the upfront capital that needs
to be spent to bring new PGM
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operations online.
Like this is specifically in the
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northern limb that we saw in the
western limb you've seen only,
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you know, maybe one or two come
on in quite a long time.
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It makes me bullish the, the PGM
outlook, specifically platinum
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and rhodium, a fan of rhodium as
well.
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No one builds a mind just for,
for rhodium as we know and by
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product operations are not
always a great thing that can
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get you totally washed out when,
you know, take the cobalt,
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cobalt market, which we learnt a
lot about anecdotally being
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close to the DRC and, and
whatnot.
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And I come away from it being
more bullish on on PGMS. I'm,
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I'm, I'm with you.
I'm more, I'm definitely more
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bullish.
PGMS just like getting a better
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understanding of the complexity
to bringing you supply online.
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And one of the, when we were in
Zambia, it was, it was, we were
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with a bunch of other media
people effectively.
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I was talking to one guy.
He's like, anytime I write
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anything about PGMS, no one
clicks it.
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No one reads it.
You know, I, I write some of the
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diamonds and people read it, but
I don't read anything about PGM.
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And I'm like, I love that.
That's, that's, I guess me like
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extra excited about about PGM
because no one finds it sexy,
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which means I think the trade's
still early, but I want to
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circle back to, to bullish South
Africa before we, we move on to
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the next take away.
Because you, you mentioned the,
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the mining code, the there's
like the 26% like empowerment,
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like equity stake ownership that
has been, it has been that for a
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very long time.
And, and there has been like
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consistency in what, what that
make up looks like.
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And I, and I think like, maybe
that will actually like, you
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know, there, there, there's
some, there's some chance that
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might actually reduce as opposed
to, to increase.
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And on top of that, like it's
not, there's, there's some
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certainty in predictability
about it.
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And like, if you think of, if
you think of like the, the model
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that actually works with, with,
with, with, with land owners,
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it, it's, I think equity
alignment is like the best
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possible alignment.
You can have no royalty
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royalties are de minimis in
South Africa.
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Like, but the 26% kind of, you
know, black empowerment
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ownership is what you kind of
can't navigate around.
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However, like it's, it's not
like, like that.
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If, if there's a project getting
going to development, it can
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still be developed and cash
flows can be funded by the other
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sources.
And then initial profitability
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repays the, the, the CapEx
proportion of black empowerment
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ownership if they can't fund it.
So it's, you know, there's,
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there's, it's not like a
completely free garried interest
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into production.
There's yeah.
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That, that stability component
is, is kind of key.
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And yeah, I think there's
there's a kind of bigger .0.
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Good, thank you.
I think there's a bigger
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conversation around like what I
think we both honed in on and
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saw on like the the enormous
positive impact that mining can
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make in in these places.
But we'll save that one for
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later because it ties in
directly with with the mining
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code, just like comparing
jurisdictions and why we're kind
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of bullish.
Africa power is a massive 1 as
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well.
And Zambia, South Africa and
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Australia all very massively.
Zambia had had their challenges.
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But right now if you compare the
energy cost, almost all of it
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comes from renewables, hydro in
in Zambia and the cost is half
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of what you're paying in
Australia.
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That is eye watering South
Africa as well.
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It's well publicized S comms had
it's had it's headaches.
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Everyone says it's been better,
but there's there's reasons why
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it's been better the last couple
of years, a lot of the ferro
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alloy smelters and other
smelters have gone offline.
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They've freed up energy capacity
for for households, but then it
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it ties in with renewables as
well because a lot of the
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households have slapped on solar
panels to what they can to be
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not reliant and kind of takes us
into I don't think.
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He's a perfect on the on the on
the energy front in in South
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Africa, but absolutely.
Not.
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But the point is they're not in
Australia either, and we we know
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that.
Unit costs are markedly cheaper
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than than Australia, but like 9
day on an energy front in in
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Zambia and in South Africa,
albeit, you know, imperfect
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energy systems.
Yeah, ESCOM has it's it's issues
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in Zambia, even though you
mentioned the renewables like a
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lot of what like you know the
large mines use they're they're
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importing their energy from
Mozambique and the likes which
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is a lot that's thermal.
And, and you're coming from an
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era where it was a state owned
power company that ran it and
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that came with a lot of problems
just like Escom is today.
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Zambia is, is kind of moving
away from that.
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So it's, it's really interesting
to see if we go through that
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list as well.
The other big one on my mind is
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productivity.
Productivity in Zambia versus
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productivity in Australia is
startling.
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We heard a stat from people that
build big, big mines.
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You know that I mean to to put
in a nutshell.
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00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:17,720
Say the stat.
Say the stat.
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So the stat is.
The stat is five man hours to
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put a ton of steel above you
essentially in Zambia versus 25
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hours in Australia.
Now they are man hours.
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That doesn't even take your
wages into account.
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That's, that's the productivity
of of, of the individual worker.
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Yeah.
Not not multiplied by their
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salary five times.
I don't think we need to spell
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out that's.
That's that's I.
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Don't think we need to spell out
what the difference in salary is
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either.
Yeah and drive in drive out
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operations versus FIFO another
another thing massively like on
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on our minds as well.
But that productivity thing is
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like amazing.
And to your point of like on on
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cash cost being being cheaper,
they, they've got to be right.
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They, they Australia still does
have that rule of law that you
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can't fault it is still on that
on that rule.
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You know on that point better
than like places like Zambia and
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stuff, but the difference in
cost, the difference in cost it
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needs to be taken into.
Account there's no perfect place
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to build a mine everywhere is
hard.
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That's like a key take away.
But but the the challenges are
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different.
Yes, in Australia you have like
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better, better security of of of
title, you know, more stable
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mining regime for the most part.
However, like, you know, unit
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costs are, are completely
uncompetitive in so many
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00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:39,120
different ways than, you know,
labour market tightness, energy
211
00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,480
tightness, productivity, these
things matter a lot.
212
00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:43,800
Ability to get things done in a
short period of time.
213
00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:48,240
Yeah, Africa's a bit of a, a, a,
a fast moving base with, with
214
00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:52,000
lower unit costs and, and you
know, really special geological
215
00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:56,160
deposits as well, albeit you
take on more risk on, on, on
216
00:10:56,160 --> 00:11:00,000
security of, of title and, and,
and government encroachment and
217
00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,000
those sorts of things.
Yeah.
218
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,400
One one other thing as well that
like just jumps out is like
219
00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:04,920
logistics.
People always forget about
220
00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:06,200
logistics.
I remember when everyone was
221
00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,200
talking about Monono the the
great lithium deposit.
222
00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,560
Monono, it's in the central.
It's like it's right in the
223
00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:15,160
middle of Africa, right?
Getting that lithium concentrate
224
00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:18,640
to that that spot concentrate to
port is a mammoth task.
225
00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,200
And like going through borders
is not the easiest job in the
226
00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,680
world.
Slapping up I think everyone
227
00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:28,960
knows between particular
borders, Take DRC to Zambia for
228
00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,440
instance, 60 kilometre lines
with trucks piled up one after
229
00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,720
the other.
Like the cost is just that much
230
00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,040
higher to get through and why?
Why is the cost higher?
231
00:11:39,560 --> 00:11:41,960
There's only people know this I.
Mean everyone needs their cut,
232
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,680
everyone needs to get paid right
and that's and that's the way
233
00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:46,240
that and.
Then you get to shake it out.
234
00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:47,760
You need to find your port as
well.
235
00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,080
You can't trust some of the
ports where your product goes to
236
00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,560
like logistics is a headache.
Even building roads.
237
00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:56,400
Like we heard a great anecdote
about the libido corridor.
238
00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:58,160
Everyone's talking about the
libido corridor.
239
00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,240
This is the railway that would
connect the Central African
240
00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,920
copper belt in Zambia and also
in the southern parts of the DIC
241
00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,240
to Angola.
And this got first mentioned I
242
00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,240
think in eighteen O 6.
So it's, it's been a long, long,
243
00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,320
long, long, long time coming.
Fingers crossed.
244
00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:16,880
It kind of gets there.
A lot of it is, is kind of
245
00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:18,120
built, but it needs to be
connected.
246
00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,360
And there's a lot of politics
to, to, to connect all these
247
00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,560
things up.
And then security with getting
248
00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:26,240
your your product out is
something to take into account.
249
00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:31,520
Too, Next take away is I'm
especially bullish Zambia and
250
00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,040
I'll tell you I'll tell you why
I'm like especially bullish
251
00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:38,880
Zambia.
You've got a, a, a like Zambia's
252
00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,520
had these like 10 year political
swings and right now they're
253
00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:46,200
five years into the the latest
like president elections around
254
00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,200
the corner.
Like I'm, I'm bullish Zambia
255
00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,000
contingent on on the status quo
being maintained there.
256
00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,520
Why?
Because because like Zambia has
257
00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,160
a mining jurisdiction.
It wants more mining.
258
00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,640
Like it has it produced 0.9
million tons of copper out of
259
00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,720
the country last year.
And it has like a, you know, a
260
00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,120
public vision aimed strategy to
reach 3,000,000 tons by 2031.
261
00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,320
Like how many, how many, how
many countries in the world say
262
00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:14,120
I want to triple by mine mining
output by, you know, within
263
00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,320
within five years?
It's so, so there's clearly like
264
00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:17,960
broad support at a political
level.
265
00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,360
You've had like stable
government regime for a long
266
00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:24,360
time or long enough time.
You've, you've got a diverse
267
00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,360
number of like players all in
that jurisdiction.
268
00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:30,520
You've got like exposure to, you
know, one of the most sought
269
00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:34,320
upon critical metals in the
world being cut by you've got
270
00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:38,000
generally under explored copper
belt because for the longest
271
00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,080
period of time it was like, you
know, one company owned it all.
272
00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:42,720
And so limited modern
exploration of a lot of that,
273
00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:44,920
that being the state.
Owned company, yeah, yeah.
274
00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,560
And, and you've got like an
increasingly skilled workforce
275
00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:54,360
that is like capable of, of, of,
of doing, like, you know, of, of
276
00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,600
doing all the things required to
extract and, and process copper
277
00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,680
ore into, into cathode or
Renault.
278
00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:00,520
Yeah.
And sought.
279
00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,200
After in many other parts of the
world, I think to put a bow on
280
00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:09,200
us being bullish Africa, the ore
bodies like the the projects are
281
00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,000
fantastic.
These these copper deposits.
282
00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,400
The grade is just it's just eye
watering.
283
00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,120
It doesn't exist in the.
The grade's not that.
284
00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,440
Eye watering it it.
Depends where you are, but it's
285
00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:20,760
like, it's not grade, it's the
scale.
286
00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:22,160
It's the scale, yeah.
It's a scale, yeah.
287
00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:28,600
It's like, So what, like
Sentinel's only like 0.60 point,
288
00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:30,760
4% copper.
I can't remember which one it
289
00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,800
is, but it's it's in and.
Around that level, but that has
290
00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,160
the scale, but you go to other
parts of the the copper belt and
291
00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,960
the grade is is significant,
right?
292
00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,520
And just compare, just compare
it with so many other parts of
293
00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:42,800
the world.
These things don't exist.
294
00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:44,680
It's this.
Yeah, it's like you can have,
295
00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:48,680
you can have the economies of
scale to, to justify electric
296
00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,960
trolley or to justify like, you
know, AA678 kilometre conveyor
297
00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:54,800
to justify all of the things
that gives you economies of
298
00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:56,800
scale.
Because you've got a a deposit
299
00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,520
that is sufficient to have, you
know, 20 years of mine life
300
00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,840
while you're producing 50
million tons or processing 50
301
00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:06,280
million tons per annum through
its processing facility bulk
302
00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,560
mining.
Makes money bulk mining unit
303
00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:11,000
cost.
To be yeah, de minimis as a
304
00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,760
result of that, which is super
impressive, should.
305
00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:16,880
We jump on to some others.
I've got one in my mind.
306
00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:19,480
So as we mentioned, we went to
the Big Waters runs.
307
00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,200
It's produced, you know, some
estimates up to 40% of all the
308
00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:26,800
gold that is that's out there.
It's out there to this day and
309
00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,000
you can see it on Google Maps.
You don't appreciate it.
310
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:34,840
You drive around the tailing
stacks from 130 years of gold
311
00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:38,840
production are staggering.
They are enormous and some of
312
00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:43,280
them grade better than new mines
coming online in in other parts
313
00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,480
of the world.
Like this is such an awesome
314
00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,680
like latent opportunity just
sitting there.
315
00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:51,440
There are companies like DRD
Gold.
316
00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,240
They have some Pan African is
doing a lot of tailings
317
00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,720
retreatment.
It's just something really worth
318
00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,720
investigating because the costs
are so low.
319
00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,240
What you're seeing is.
A lot of the.
320
00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,400
Much, much, much deeper gold
mines are turning offline in
321
00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,080
South Africa.
So you've got latent
322
00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,080
infrastructure, you've got
processing plants that need feed
323
00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,880
and mixed up in the case of
vestiges as we saw with their
324
00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:17,640
ore coming straight out the
ground as they just started
325
00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:19,280
producing in the last couple
months.
326
00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,200
What an opportunity, like what
an opportunity.
327
00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,320
I think these I.
Think these above ground dry
328
00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:26,960
stack tailings facilities which
are enormous in sky.
329
00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,520
I mean, we we drove past.
Was it the the stadium that was
330
00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:34,440
built for the Soccer City?
Yeah, home stadium to the 2010
331
00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,640
World Cup. 2010 World Cup.
And like, if you look on Google
332
00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,800
Maps, that's surrounded by these
giant town storage facilities,
333
00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:44,720
which are each maybe 20 times
the, this, you know, the area
334
00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:46,800
that, that that stadium takes
up.
335
00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,400
It's truly remarkable the scale
of these things.
336
00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,960
And the, you know, that, that
these tailings facilities have
337
00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:57,040
a, a, a like, you know, gold in
them, steel which, which can be
338
00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:01,880
retreated at, at at an economic
unit cost today as a result of,
339
00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,920
you know, gold price going up.
And I think it's a beautiful
340
00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,079
dynamic for the companies to
have the rights to process these
341
00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:10,560
facilities because because
normally you're mining and what
342
00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,440
happens when you're mining cut
off grade gets lowered over
343
00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,319
time.
You have like geology decline.
344
00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,400
You know, your unit costs scale
with inflation because your, of
345
00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,839
your underground mining, that's
mitigated because these deposits
346
00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:22,800
are sitting there above ground.
You don't have incremental
347
00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,200
mining costs.
Yes, you have processing costs.
348
00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,359
Yes, that like, yes, there's
some variability in, in what's
349
00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,240
in the, the tailings.
Yes, it requires expertise and
350
00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:33,640
skill to extract the gold.
However, these things are above
351
00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,960
ground already.
And as time goes on and gold
352
00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,280
price goes higher, they become
more and more valuable.
353
00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,400
I think that, yeah, like, like,
like Speaking of the companies
354
00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,280
that I learned about this trip
that that are listed and I find
355
00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,320
incredibly interesting that I
did not know about before, DRD
356
00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,640
gold is one of them.
They trade about 15 times, like
357
00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,680
on a PE ratio.
It's like a $3 billion market
358
00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,120
cap, 50.1% owned by Sabania
Stillwater.
359
00:17:56,120 --> 00:17:58,360
How did Sabania become the major
shareholder?
360
00:17:58,360 --> 00:18:03,200
They, they sold into DRD, you
know, one of the tailings rich
361
00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,400
tailing storage facilities and
they will continue to do that
362
00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,280
over time.
So there's like line of sight to
363
00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:13,720
a very like a very large amount
of like a very large pipeline of
364
00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:17,720
of gold to be processed by by
the ID and Sibanya and the
365
00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,080
latest calls on record are
saying that they do overtime
366
00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,720
want to increase their ownership
in DID so like one day I'm sure
367
00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:25,040
they'll they'll try and
consolidate it.
368
00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:27,880
But super interesting doesn't
trade at a very low like
369
00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,000
multiple, but but probably
rightfully so, because it's a
370
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,320
super interesting business model
that's not akin to a normal
371
00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:33,640
minor.
Yeah, consistent.
372
00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,440
Dividend payer as well. 19 years
in a.
373
00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,040
Row place of dividend, Yeah,
that's awesome.
374
00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:37,720
All right.
Next one?
375
00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:38,760
Oh, I've got.
No, I've got another.
376
00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:40,320
Company that I found really
interesting too.
377
00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:41,400
I want to share.
All right, here we go.
378
00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,920
So this company I did not know
about, did not realize was
379
00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,320
listed and it's actually the
most interesting listed company
380
00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:49,600
I've come across in a very long
time.
381
00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:56,000
It's ZCCM So.
And how did you find out about
382
00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:57,240
this one?
We were on the plane.
383
00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,880
And you, you, you were pointing
to a magazine like mate, look,
384
00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:05,160
look at this.
So ZCCM is the the state like
385
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,800
Zambian state owned copper
miner, but it's not entirely
386
00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,480
owned and, and I hate is, I
think investment holdings.
387
00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:15,240
So it's like a holdings vehicle
for the state owned interests in
388
00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,600
the copper mines.
Now what are those interests?
389
00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:23,120
Well, ZCCM has, it's like, you
know, like it has a minority
390
00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:27,000
interest in almost every
producing copper mine in the
391
00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,600
country that it has like, you
know, in some cases a, a 50%
392
00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,120
interest, in some cases a a 100%
interest.
393
00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:37,080
And, and in, in, in many cases
they're not getting dividends on
394
00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,920
those assets yet from their
equity interest, but they will
395
00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:44,480
in time as those mines start to
make money and and the the state
396
00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:47,200
miner share is like paid off
from the free cash flow.
397
00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,440
Yeah, if these.
Projects get get restarted.
398
00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:50,840
I think Kasanchi is a great
example.
399
00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,680
They own 20% of Kasanchi so so
that. 20% of Kasanchi got
400
00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:58,080
converted to a three-point 3.3
or 3.6% gross royalty.
401
00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:00,800
No, this is Kasanchi.
OK, I'm pretty sure it's
402
00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:02,200
Kasanchi.
So.
403
00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:06,000
In the, in the case of Konsanji,
their interest is now a, a, a
404
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,840
gross royalty.
And I think that is by far and
405
00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:13,120
above the biggest contributor to
the, to the, to the earnings of
406
00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,920
ZCCM because the, the, you know,
the, the rest are, are getting
407
00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:18,280
there.
But I think the conversion of
408
00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,320
the royalty is probably
indicative of what will happen
409
00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:25,200
in the future as the producing
mines start to be to, you know,
410
00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:27,280
to get to the stage of paying
dividends, I think the state
411
00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,280
will push in the direction of
converting them to royalties.
412
00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,800
Now, why is this interesting
from an investor's perspective?
413
00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,200
Because I think it's less than
10%.
414
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,000
It's like maybe 6 point
something percent of ZCCM is
415
00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,000
listed on the Lusaka Stock
Exchange.
416
00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,760
And it is, it is incredibly
interesting because if you think
417
00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:49,040
of like, if you think of the
ways you get rug pulled
418
00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,720
investing in African miners,
it's because the government
419
00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:54,760
takes incremental stakes from
you.
420
00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,600
Imagine investing in the
government, like what, what?
421
00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:02,960
And, and not only that, right,
Not only that, being like being
422
00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:06,560
on the side of, of, of
government, who, who has, you
423
00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:08,720
know, the equity interest in one
of the most interesting, you
424
00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,080
know, copper exposures over
time.
425
00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:15,120
It's like it's income is more
akin to a royalty than an actual
426
00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:18,920
miner.
And over time it should command
427
00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:20,760
a royalty multiple, not a
miner's multiple.
428
00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,000
Already most of it's income is
royalty linked.
429
00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:26,480
And guess what PE ratio it
trades on?
430
00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:35,600
Tell me. 6. .5 times royalty
companies like like 20 times
431
00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:39,240
right north of 20 times
Sometimes it is so there's the.
432
00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,800
African discount and I I don't
think it's beyond reason to
433
00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,480
think that there could be a way
in which a very minority
434
00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,960
shareholder doesn't get the same
outcome as other people.
435
00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:53,080
But the the margin, the margin
of safety there is is worth
436
00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,120
doing some more homework on
mate, it's on the.
437
00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:58,000
Lusaka Stock Exchange So it's
like I just think people don't
438
00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,560
know about this company or like,
you know, I don't don't have
439
00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,000
permission to buy equities in on
the Lusaka Stock Exchange.
440
00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:07,440
But like imagine buying a it's
like a state owned royalty
441
00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:11,480
company trading trading at AAPE
less than yeah, most miners
442
00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,640
Yeah, and.
And I think that ties in as well
443
00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:15,960
with just like being bullish EM
emerging markets.
444
00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:20,480
Like if you look at the MSCI
World index in a time where the
445
00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:24,120
US makes up more than 70%,
that's just bonkers.
446
00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:26,680
And emerging markets around the
world have been like running.
447
00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,720
Look at Brazil for example.
Great example.
448
00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:31,600
Africa has.
Like some fantastic businesses
449
00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,400
you can look in and one of the
problems is how many people
450
00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,120
can't invest there, but they're,
they're some seriously
451
00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:40,000
attractive businesses to, to, to
get intrigued by.
452
00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,800
I've got a.
Couple other things that yeah,
453
00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:43,920
I've got.
I've got another one to.
454
00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:48,720
To serve that, yeah, starting
out small scale, starting out
455
00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,840
with a pilot plant.
This plays into like the
456
00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:56,400
optionality which can be so
mouth watering in in my opinion.
457
00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,600
And we saw it many times today.
So plant Reef essentially did a
458
00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,240
pilot plant.
They tinkered with what the
459
00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:03,800
final processing plant is going
to look like.
460
00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:08,240
They got much more familiar with
the the ore body, the the
461
00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,720
metallurgy of the rock coming
out the ground.
462
00:23:12,120 --> 00:23:14,720
Very took a look that started I
think 6,000,000 tonnes per
463
00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,160
annum, now has capacity beyond
30 million tonnes per annum.
464
00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:21,440
Kansanshi was way smaller.
They started with what later
465
00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:25,240
became known as S0, the
processing plant S1S2.
466
00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:28,280
And in September last year S3
was commissioned.
467
00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,120
Enormous, like this thing now
has processing capacity for over
468
00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:34,400
50 million tonnes.
But first Quantum in their own
469
00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,760
words, didn't have the money to
build out the full scale thing
470
00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:39,600
at the beginning.
So now they've done it, they've
471
00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:44,120
put the money in the ground.
Vicunia is another project that
472
00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:46,920
is thinking about this type of
optionality, this type of
473
00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:48,720
expansion using your free cash
flows.
474
00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,240
Investors don't always love it,
but I think it's like a
475
00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,600
fantastic way of maintaining
that equity ownership and not
476
00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:56,920
diluting along the way.
You just need to have a long
477
00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:59,120
term time horizon to to really
play this one.
478
00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:01,240
I and I think there's.
There's certain ore bodies that
479
00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:03,160
lend themselves to the
incremental expansion over time
480
00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,280
as well the long.
Life ore bodies, of course, of
481
00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:06,440
course, the long life ore
bodies.
482
00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:11,560
But I, I think that's you, you
learn so much in that process as
483
00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,600
well about the ore body, about
the processing that needs to be
484
00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:17,480
done, about operating in
country, everything like that,
485
00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,600
that it, it, there can be so
many benefits downstream that
486
00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:22,280
come from that, that that kind
of jumped out at me.
487
00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:24,400
So the flip the.
Flip side of that is like
488
00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,960
Sentinel was developed 50
million tons per annum out the
489
00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:30,520
gate.
Like everything was kind of
490
00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:34,160
like, you know, designed to
without, without incremental
491
00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:36,240
expansion.
Because like First Quantum had
492
00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:39,080
had the learnings had and had
the balance sheet to, to fund it
493
00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:42,040
in the certain way and had the
expertise to just port over from
494
00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:44,640
everything that they'd done at
Konsanji to to Sentinel.
495
00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,440
They had the balance.
Sheet from Konsanji 10 years
496
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,720
earlier and and other and other
operations, but I find that
497
00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:54,560
super interesting.
OK, another another couple quick
498
00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:57,200
ones for me and then I think
we'd better get to the gate
499
00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,440
mate.
But one is don't fade mining
500
00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:04,680
electrification trend entirely.
So I I'm guilty of being like,
501
00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,400
you know, a bit cynical about
the whole like, you know,
502
00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:12,240
overindulgent over glamorization
of like, you know, our our minds
503
00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:16,520
becoming electric.
And I was pleasantly surprised
504
00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:21,040
to see just the, the uptake of
some, you know, some, some novel
505
00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:23,760
engineering stuff from really
reputable engineers,
506
00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:28,400
particularly Kansanci and, and
also at, at Sentinel, but also
507
00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:31,480
also at they, they all had
trolleys And what like, you
508
00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,920
know, these are those, you know,
there's wires that go above the
509
00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:38,280
long ramps, go going, going to
the pits where the, the trucks
510
00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:41,600
kind of like clip onto them.
And, and you know, they get,
511
00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:45,560
they get electricity, save
massive savings and diesel if
512
00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:47,920
these things go faster.
Like, we'll play a bit of
513
00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,920
footage now with like one of
these big trucks on the trolley,
514
00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:55,360
just like racing and beating
uphill across smaller truck 300
515
00:25:55,360 --> 00:26:00,800
and. 20 to 340 I think even 360
ton trucks that genuinely look
516
00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:04,280
like they're going quick uphill,
double double the speed of
517
00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,320
conventional like now why does
that work?
518
00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,280
Because unit cost.
Of energy on you know from the
519
00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:12,040
from the grid much much lower.
Yeah, yeah.
520
00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,640
But.
Yeah, technology that they're
521
00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:20,280
advancing as well, challenging
conventional conveyor systems as
522
00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:22,120
well.
Super interesting stuff.
523
00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:24,680
Yeah, super interesting stuff.
And yet like there's, there's a
524
00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:28,400
broader point about small nimble
teams, flat organizational
525
00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:32,840
structures where you've just got
people that own their own their
526
00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,520
space, like really own their
space held accountable.
527
00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,800
And some of the people we met
along the way were super
528
00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:40,880
impressive, like, yeah.
Totally agree.
529
00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,920
Like first Quantum is just a
like A1A marvellous company that
530
00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:48,160
hopefully one day we can we can
do justice telling a story that
531
00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:50,560
that organization 'cause it's
it's wicked and remarkable.
532
00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:52,680
And they do all of this
engineering in house.
533
00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:54,640
They take on the impossible and
there's a lot of competitive
534
00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,960
advantage in that model.
But you know, likewise the the
535
00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:00,560
operators at an Ivan place were
super impressive.
536
00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:04,560
The operators are Minar like a a
modest small scale operation was
537
00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:06,160
super impressive.
Like, yeah.
538
00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,520
Across the like the there were
people I was impressed with that
539
00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:12,160
every operation we went to, it
was it was really awesome.
540
00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:15,720
Awesome to see.
You know, last point, just a
541
00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:17,800
short 1.
You always have to build in
542
00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,000
where the contingencies that
we've joked about it from, from
543
00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,400
the days 29 metals, Capricorn
copper first got flooded.
544
00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:27,480
But there there is just so much
out of your control in mining as
545
00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,400
well.
The contingency needs to be
546
00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:30,600
baked in.
I don't think we need to dwell
547
00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:33,840
on that point, but it it, it
stuck out like a sore thumb.
548
00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,960
And the the last one from me is
like, especially when we in
549
00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,360
Zambia and we stayed at Kizansi
and Sentinel, like these are
550
00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:46,280
these are towns that that that
had incredibly undemanding, you
551
00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,520
know, populations before these
mines were were built there.
552
00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,960
And it's always he went from.
40,000 people to 380,000 people
553
00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:55,960
in 20 years, yeah.
Then yeah.
554
00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,160
So there's not quite.
Shenzhen in in China, but it's,
555
00:27:58,160 --> 00:27:59,640
it's unbelievable.
So there's probably, there's
556
00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:01,920
probably.
Two points out of this one is 1
557
00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:06,520
is like, you know, mining is a a
tremendous force of, of, of, of,
558
00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:09,960
you know, positive things for
the world, especially in the
559
00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:14,040
developing world.
The second point is some of
560
00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,280
those, those places we stayed
like I've, I've never I, I, I
561
00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,120
wasn't around to know what it
was like living in, in a WMC
562
00:28:20,120 --> 00:28:22,640
town.
Like, yes, I grew up in
563
00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,560
Kalgoorlie, which which felt
like, you know, the the last of
564
00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:30,400
the true mining towns for most
of my life, but then it just
565
00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,600
feels a lot more hollowed out
from FIFO since then.
566
00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,040
But when we were in consanguine,
when we were in Sentinel, like
567
00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:38,120
these felt like what I imagine
the WMC towns would have felt
568
00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:39,640
like.
These are true kind of mining
569
00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:41,200
communities.
The people who work on those
570
00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,080
mines, they live in the towns,
they build all the
571
00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:45,680
infrastructure in the towns.
There's, you know, the, the, the
572
00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:47,920
golf clubs and everything that's
all built by the miners and
573
00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:49,480
everyone who, you know, works
there.
574
00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,200
They they, they move there with
their families.
575
00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,240
They do family stuff on the
weekends and you know, they go
576
00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:56,080
to kids birthday parties.
They the kids do all sport and
577
00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,280
everything on the weekdays.
It just it just felt it felt
578
00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:00,560
pretty wholesome, like from the
whole gunny, you know, community
579
00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:05,080
buying perspective and it left
AI don't know, like a a
580
00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,680
nostalgic taste in my mouth.
Not that I have nostalgic
581
00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,360
because I didn't experience what
that would have been like.
582
00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:14,200
But yeah, there's there's the
obvious advantages from that
583
00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:16,840
model from a cost perspective,
like the you know, the unit
584
00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,600
costs are so much more
attractive when your workforce
585
00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:21,480
is in FIFO.
But then there's all of those
586
00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:23,400
intangible things that come from
the, you know, the rich
587
00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:25,960
community and work life that you
have when everyone, when
588
00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,000
everyone in the families are
living in that, in that town
589
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:32,840
too, which unfortunately over
time doesn't exist in WA
590
00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:34,040
anymore.
Yeah, it's.
591
00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:38,200
It's very true that ability to
have a positive impact is, is
592
00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:40,600
astounding, especially like you
said in, in the developed world.
593
00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:44,000
We, we saw it first hand,
companies that tried very hard
594
00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,720
to, to do that.
Obviously the same can't be said
595
00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:48,120
for, for every mining company
out there.
596
00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,800
But it was really awesome to see
like a lot of people trying to
597
00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:54,040
pull their way, trying to trying
to help help everyone around
598
00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,520
them to, to move forward was
fantastic to see.
599
00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:00,200
I'll just list a couple really
cool things that that stuck out.
600
00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:03,200
We had the privilege of going to
a copper smelter.
601
00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:05,680
If you ever get the opportunity,
do it.
602
00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,320
It is one of the coolest
experiences.
603
00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:11,920
It like, I'm just blown away.
The fact that like people can do
604
00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:15,840
that, like the pouring molten
copper at over 1000°.
605
00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:18,600
You'll feel the heat of the
place when you walk into it.
606
00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,560
We'll, we'll overlay some videos
because it just there's, there's
607
00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:24,280
an energy about the place.
It is super, super cool.
608
00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:26,600
You loved it?
Absolutely.
609
00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:27,840
Loved it.
The other thing, that one other
610
00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,760
thing blew me away.
In South Africa, there's a
611
00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:32,600
mining language.
I've never known about this.
612
00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:34,320
There are.
There are so many different
613
00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:38,040
ethnic groups and there is a
common language that is a blend
614
00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:42,040
of all of them, from Zulu to
Zulsa to a bit of Afrikaans in
615
00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:44,440
there as well.
That really impressed me.
616
00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:48,840
I thought that was pretty cool.
I reckon I was sick these oh
617
00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:53,960
wait, how how how funny was it
when we were driving along this
618
00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:57,560
dirt Rd. towards one of the
mines in Zambia and we just
619
00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:00,440
drive past two of our sponsors
like like side by side.
620
00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:02,520
First it was Cal tire shout out
Cal tire.
621
00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:04,440
Thanks for sponsoring the
directors special.
622
00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:06,200
And then next to him Sandvik
mate like.
623
00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:10,080
Sandvik, check him out.
Sandvik, also in Zambia.
624
00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:11,440
Who would have thought?
I'm not surprised.
625
00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:12,640
Not.
Surprised in the slightest?
626
00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:14,760
Here's Al.
Ed from Sam Ground support
627
00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:16,760
Travis Ricciardo.
We have spent the last little
628
00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:19,920
while visiting a whole host of
mining operations, some truly
629
00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:23,040
great mining operations in a
different part of the world.
630
00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:26,600
But you know the one thing that
underground mines all around the
631
00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:28,200
world need?
Ground support.
632
00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:31,440
Ground support, in fact, in
South Africa, where we are right
633
00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:35,680
now as we're airing this
episode, they could go a lot
634
00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:39,360
deeper than mines in, in WA, the
coal mines might they go down
635
00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:41,120
like 3 kilometers.
That's because the rock is more
636
00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:42,200
competent.
But guess what?
637
00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,320
Doesn't matter if you're South
Africa or or WA, if you, if you,
638
00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:49,200
if you're going deep, you still
need a hell of a lot of ground
639
00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,040
support because that is what
helps you mine more.
640
00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:54,240
Go deeper and keep people safe
in the process.
641
00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:55,920
It's true, some of these.
Mines are pushing on 4
642
00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:59,160
kilometers deep and word on the
ground here in South Africa is
643
00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:02,320
that they all use Sandvik ground
support that enables them to get
644
00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:06,320
down that deep and mine the
minerals that the world needs.
645
00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:09,040
So if you want to be mining that
deep, you should Chuck in an
646
00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:11,000
order with Sandvik ground
support.
647
00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,360
You can do it on the app or you
can give the billion dollar man.
648
00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,360
Derek heard a call right now.
I can't believe.
649
00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:17,960
You said word on the ground, not
word on the decline.
650
00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:19,800
I'm, I'm embarrassed.
We're talking about ground
651
00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:21,120
support.
You say word on the ground, it's
652
00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:22,040
word.
It's underground.
653
00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:23,840
It's underground.
Go just get some sandy ground
654
00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:25,000
support.
We're down the shaft.
655
00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:27,520
Go Sandy.
So mate, what?
656
00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,040
A wicked trip.
I think we've got, we're
657
00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:32,800
massively grateful to, you know,
all of the companies that that
658
00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:36,120
hosted us for the, for the time
that we spent, you know, the,
659
00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:39,440
the, the, the time the operators
on the ground took to actually
660
00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:44,240
show and explain to us things.
We as non miners learn a hell of
661
00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:47,320
a lot from these site visits.
And yeah, super grateful to
662
00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:48,600
those companies.
It was eye.
663
00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:50,920
Opening What an awesome
experience, what fantastic
664
00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:52,880
countries.
And yeah, got to drink some
665
00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:57,120
delicious beer along the way.
Mossy was a special for me and I
666
00:32:57,120 --> 00:32:59,760
am or couple.
Hours throughout the week too
667
00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:01,560
mate.
A couple hours.
668
00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:03,960
Couple hours.
Couple hours.
669
00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:08,160
All right, so first one happened
Actually, no, there's one that
670
00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:11,040
happened like 30 minutes ago
when we got off 1 of a flight
671
00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:14,240
and I just left my my, my carry
on baggage on the flight all
672
00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:15,840
your.
Baggage, everything.
673
00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:18,480
Thankfully, you were behind.
Me and just took my picked up my
674
00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,240
bag and and grabbed it for me.
Much appreciated mate.
675
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:26,520
Legend then.
At Exaro getting spoiled just an
676
00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:31,040
an outstanding lunch they've
they've put on for us Trev walks
677
00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:33,440
up what's the sign you see
visitors use So yeah there's.
678
00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,960
All the food is like laid out on
this table and like I can see
679
00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:39,840
all of the food and there's no
plates where I can see, but I
680
00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:41,360
can see on the wall that the
plates were.
681
00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:43,880
Just to the right.
To be clear, I can see on the.
682
00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:46,120
Wall, as you saw it, I'll pop a
photo.
683
00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:51,160
It says it says yeah, visitors
use yeah, so, and, and hanging
684
00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:52,960
on the wall are these like
decorative plates?
685
00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:55,520
So I just assumed that the
visitors grab plates off of the
686
00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:58,720
wall.
And so I I loaded up my my plate
687
00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:01,000
with a wall decoration plate
with with the fittings.
688
00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:02,720
Still attached to the plate
itself.
689
00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:06,280
Anyway, few hours a real
special.
690
00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:08,639
Moment, mate, I'm not gonna miss
having to wake up at 2:00 in the
691
00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:11,199
morning to send out the director
special.
692
00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:12,760
Yeah, but.
We got.
693
00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:13,880
It done.
It wasn't the end of the world,
694
00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,320
wasn't the end of the.
World, but looking forward to
695
00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:18,520
having some sleep and the rest
over the weekend and being back
696
00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:20,080
on the first time zone.
That's right.
697
00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:22,840
Mate, a massive thank you to
Sandy Ground support interlinks
698
00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:26,920
focused platform by market tech
XE Capital and Medalsub hoodoo
699
00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:30,800
hoodoo money miners.
Now remember, I'm an idiot.
700
00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:33,520
JD is an idiot.
If you thought any of this was
701
00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:36,040
anything other than
entertainment, you're an idiot
702
00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:37,560
and you need to read out
disclaimer.