Modern Mining May 2024

We will determine the final capital requirements later this year. Owing to the current market situation, we are flexible in terms of our capital requirements and are considering various funding options as we eye project construction in 2026.” On a more positive note, should the PGM price improve by the end of 2025, Southern Palladium will consider “going full steam into 2025 with a Pre-feasibility Study and Mining Right in hand and possibly a slightly amended project construction time-line”. The Roger Baxter drawcard In January, Southern Palladium appointed industry heavy-weight Roger Baxter, who brings to the junior miner a wealth of South African mining industry experience, as its new Chairman. The previous CEO of Minerals Council South Africa is also the chairman of the World Platinum Investment Council, and therefore able to share lat est insights in the PGM market with the emerging miner. “Having Roger Baxter on the Board of Southern Palladium is a great advantage, not only because of his intimate knowledge of the industry but also because he brings with him an extensive network of local, UK and Australian contacts. Currently, our biggest shareholder base is in Australia and as we move into the development and construction phases, and enter the race to raise the requisite capital, we will need greater exposure and an introduction to investors, which is what Baxter offers.” According to Odendaal, Baxter is a hands-on Board member who provides the company with

“great direction” as well. Earlier this year, Baxter, together with Southern Palladium’s board members, visited the Bengwenyama project site. PGM outlook According to Odendaal, the three key PGM products of platinum, palladium and rhodium are forecast to be in a potential deficit in 2024 and 2025. With the PGM price currently sitting at below $1000/oz, miners of the Merensky reef are facing challenges, with “as much as 25% of those platinum operations currently underwater”. In a bid to remain profitable, several miners are undergoing business restructure. “I believe that from a demand perspective, the next year and a half could see slow improvement in demand for PGMs, driven by the automotive industry and a shift to hybrid vehicles. Coupled with being a commodity used in the industrial sector, platinum also has an investment component advantage. However, the overhang in the global economy, which sees uncertainty related to interest rates and possible recession in some major economies, includ ing the US, continues to influence the minerals and metals market, particularly demand and supply fun damentals for PGMs. On the upside, should there be an uptick in the global economy, there will certainly be an increased demand for PGMs, which will translate to supply defi cits that will drive prices skyward. Overall, I believe there is still a good outlook for platinum going for ward and that Southern Palladium is well positioned to take advantage of the market up-tick as our project begins development in 2026,” concludes Odendaal. 

Bengwenyama is a shallow ore body and provides the company with an opportunity for early access.

May 2024  MODERN MINING  19