Uranium miner Paladin Energy went into a trading halt today just as junior fertiliser developers Avenira and Danakali separately revealed the identity of offtake partners not disclosed in market releases made to the market earlier this week.

“Avenira is pleased to advise that the counterparties to the offtake agreements referenced are Actatrade SA and Getax Agrifert DMCC,” the phosphate junior said.

“Further to the announcement dated 20 July 2016 concerning non-binding offtake MOUs for sulphate of potash magnesia (SOPM), Danakali advises that the counter- parties to these non-binding MoU’s are Tabarak Fertiliser, Delta Company for Fertilisers and Chemicals, and Helm,” the potash junior said.

Earlier this Paladin said it had “signed a non-binding terms sheet with a major participant in the global nuclear power industry” to sell it a 24% interest in the Langer Heinrich uranium operation.

While the miner was happy to flag the $US175 million price it expected to receive for the 24% stake, it said other key terms of the proposed transaction remain confidential, “including the identity of the counterparty”.

MNN was unable to reach Paladin to confirm this was the issue the ASX has with the company.

But in light of the releases made by Avenira, Danakali and others, it would appear very much the most likely reason.

And while the ASX’s new found vigilance is likely to cause difficulties for legitimate companies engaging in sensitive commercial negotiations with third parties, there may be many burnt investors who would be cheering the ASX given the many spurious claims made by companies in the resources sector over the past ten years or so.

When self-policing fails, can the sector be surprised when cops arrive on the scene?