ENERGY MINERALS

Graphite ticks all the boxes: Flanagan

BATTERY Minerals chairman David Flanagan said graphite’s potential to generate strong returns was part of its appeal.

Battery general counsel Naomi Scott and chairman David Flanagan

Battery general counsel Naomi Scott and chairman David Flanagan

Flanagan told the Noosa Mining & Exploration Investor Conference in Queensland Battery was well-positioned to capitalise on the world's transition to cleaner energy.

The company has the advanced Montepuez project in Mozamabique, where it has already spent US$26 million.

Battery still has A$6.5 million cash.

"If someone wrote me a cheque for US$40 million this afternoon, we'd need a bit of working capital, but we'd be exporting graphite in 15 months," Flanagan said.

Battery has struggled to get the full funding required for Montepuez but Flanagan said the company has derisked it in the meantime.

"We've drilled the living shit out of it," he said.

"We know it well and our customers love that."

Flanagan said graphite offered the potential for super profits.

"It'll make our market cap [of A$18.5 million] of today look like nothing."

Data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence shows graphite will be in a potential shortage starting in 2021, with little new supply coming.

Flanagan expressed doubts about some of the existing supply.

"A couple of these guys couldn't run a pencil along a ruler, let alone run a mining company," he said.

Battery shares last traded at 1.4c.

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