Climate revolution hanging by a thread: Siemens Energy, BASF, Manuka Resources

BASF: Recycling alone is not enough

In addition to regenerative energies, researchers have identified lithium batteries for electromobility, permanent magnets, electrolysers, heat pumps and plants for the production of green steel as "particularly relevant key technologies". These areas were selected based on various criteria, with a central focus on the potential for CO2 savings and current dependencies on individual production countries, such as China. The supply of relevant raw materials is crucial for companies like BASF to expand into new areas or make existing businesses climate-neutral. In this context, a circular economy is becoming increasingly important, and BASF, for example, sees great potential in this area.

Siemens Energy: Waste heat as a gold mine

While breaking down materials into their smallest components could even mean growth for the chemical giant, some manufacturing companies in high-tech industries are still skeptical. It is not uncommon for recycling to be considered too expensive or for the recycled material not to achieve the necessary quality to be used to manufacture high-tech products. In the area of using waste heat from industrial plants, however, companies like Siemens Energy are already offering solutions: Huge heat pumps harness waste heat and, in combination with generators, generate electricity.

Manuka Resources: Is this smallcap sitting on 15% of the vanadium supply?

While industrial companies such as BASF and Siemens Energy are already pushing ahead with projects, there is also some caution within industry to refrain from committing to individual technologies. Commodity companies are already being called upon to make landmark decisions. Australia's Manuka Resources has acquired the STB iron sands and vanadium project in New Zealand as early as 2021, demonstrating great foresight. Vanadium is considered a key raw material for large-scale power storage and infrastructure projects. Independent of the latest published study, vanadium is already considered a critical element in the US, EU and Australia. To date, vanadium has come predominantly from Russia and China - the New Zealand project, which Manuka Executive Chairman Dennis Karp believes could potentially produce 15% of the world's vanadium supply annually, fits the bill perfectly given the geopolitical environment.

In parallel, Manuka Resources offers two precious metals projects in Australia and a rock mill capable of processing materials from both mines. At the Mt Boppy project, there are extensive tailings piles that the Company needs to remove and process. No sooner is Manuka working in the ground than the team is finding gold - most recently, the project increased its gold resources by 360% and sees further potential beyond that. "Given the expected cash flow from our gold production, we are in a strong position to not only upgrade our suspected ounces to higher categories but also to continually expand the overall resource," said Manuka Executive Chairman Dennis Karp.

Manuka Resources: Precious metals business flushes capital into coffers

Despite the strong starting position from the promising vanadium project and the two precious metals mines that can generate cash flows, Manuka Resources has recently been forced to raise new capital. Professional investors have taken a stake in the Company and purchased new shares. In the wake of the move, which involved 3,700,000 shares at AUD 0.05, the stock has weakened and is now trading slightly below the level of the capital injection. Given the mainstays in the precious metals sector and the young but very promising STB project in New Zealand, which offers access to vanadium, the share is not uninteresting at the current level.

While companies like Siemens Energy and BASF are struggling with political conditions and cannot implement all their ambitious plans, especially in Germany, investors with foresight are taking the initiative in second-tier stocks, like Manuka Resources, and investing in the Company. Although it is unclear what the climate-neutral future will ultimately look like, it is well known that it will not be possible without certain critical raw materials. The large market share of China and Russia in vanadium argues for a closer look at Manuka Resources.