Highlights During and After the Quarter
During the three months ended
- On
March 1, 2023 , the Company announced it identified extensive Co-Ni-mineralization 50 metres above the previously reported Gallery 7 at its Bihor Sud project inRomania .
Subsequent to
- On
June 1, 2023 , the Company announced in-situ assay results at over 30% Nickel and 4.7% Cobalt at Bihor Sud. Additionally, surface trench assay results indicate a zone of Pb-Zn-Ag mineralisation.
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended
During the three months ended
Three Months Ended
During the three months ended
Selected Financial Data
The following selected financial information is derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Fiscal 2023 | Fiscal 2022 | Fiscal 2021 | ||||||
Three Months Ended | 2023 $ | 2023 $ | 2022 $ | 2022 $ | 2022 $ | 2022 $ | 2021 $ | 2021 $ |
Operations | ||||||||
Expenses | (1,048,182) | (570,549) | (425,075) | (419,050) | (433,894) | (1,874,407) | (583,391) | (600,531) |
Other items | (187,421) | (66,586) | 308,721 | (190,659) | (356,226) | (219,942) | 28,466 | (477,057) |
Comprehensive profit/(loss) | (1,235,603) | (637,135) | (116,354) | (609,709) | (790,120) | (2,094,349) | (554,925) | (1,077,588) |
Basic Profit/(loss) per share | (0.01) | (0.00) | (0.00) | (0.00) | (0.01) | (0.01) | (0.00) | (0.01) |
Diluted profit/(loss) per share | (0.01) | (0.00) | (0.00) | (0.00) | (0.01) | (0.01) | (0.00) | (0.01) |
Financial Position | ||||||||
Working capital | 1,344,044 | 2,124,643 | 1,365,657 | 1,686,095 | 2,396,484 | 3,236,870 | 2,350,166 | 2,803,903 |
Total assets | 24,181,654 | 24,845,430 | 23,832,418 | 24,827,062 | 25,000,847 | 30,597,341 | 28,756,406 | 28,455,148 |
Total non-current liabilities | (5,404,808) | (5,556,603) | (5,292,618) | (6,159,922) | (6,045,964) | (10,812,012) | (9,946,686) | (9,054,376) |
Financial Condition / Capital Resources
During the three months ended
Outlook
Since our last quarterly update, we are pleased to see additional momentum on political and legislative levels in the
Regarding the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, which was proposed this spring, we hear informal feedback from various sources that it is largely considered a sensible proposal. We can only agree, preferring free market mechanisms rather than making companies dependent on direct subsidies and such. As a reminder, the proposed legislation will require at least 10% of such designated critical raw materials to have been mined in the EU, and for member states to guarantee 24 months permitting process for projects deemed of strategic importance, all within very tight timelines.
Additionally, there are numerous other initiatives also highly relevant to us, for example:
- The EU Parliament has adopted new rules for the design, manufacture and recycling of all types of batteries sold in the EU.[1] The background to the content of the regulation, are the proposals for mandatory sustainability criteria for batteries. This is relevant to our Woxna graphite mine (only one in the EU), where we conducted a life cycle analysis to demonstrate its capacity to be an order of magnitude lower GHG emitter as a Swedish anode producer compared to most current Asian alternatives, presented in our 2021 PEA.[2]
- Proposals to beef up the European Net-Zero Industry Act.[3] This is relevant to the European wind power industry. Our
Norra Karr project potentially plays a vital role in possibly makingEurope self sufficient for some of the critical rare earth elements without which one can not manufacture the permanent magnets which go into wind turbine generators and electric motors.China has a near full control of these materials today. - The German government plans to set up a state fund worth up to €2 billion (
$2.2 billion ) that will support mining of raw materials critical to the nation’s green transition, with the aim of securing access and cutting reliance onChina .[4] - Along with the multi-billion
France 2030[5] plan we have to conclude that there appears to be several alternatives emerging for European companies like ours to access funding to develop and build projects.
Politicians, supported by European citizens, certainly appear to walk the talk in terms of aligning with stated policy aims. What has surprised us is the speed with which these proposals are suggested and rapidly debated to get implemented in short order. It seems everyone is aware and committed to deal with the multiple crises we find ourselves in the middle of: climate change, war in
We are pleased that we have managed to position the Company at the point where these trends converge providing a convex exposure to events taking place around us.
Our built and permitted Woxna graphite mine and plant continues to be meticulously kept on care and maintenance. As reported, we are evaluating a restart of the mine to initially produce graphite concentrate, as the first step to developing a downstream anode business. Market signals are obviously important to guide us as to when to restart.
The massive forecast demand-supply imbalance of graphite appears one of the most attractive investment cases of any of the battery materials.[6] However, natural flake graphite prices have so far (along with many other commodities) come down over 20% this year.[7] This suggests that we are not yet at the point where relatively inelastic demand from nascent giga factories meets the tight current supply. With economic slowdown in
We believe having a built and permitted graphite mine, in an excellent jurisdiction with proximity to infrastructure and the many new giga factories gradually coming on line is the most compelling exposure one can have set to benefit from this imbalance. Given the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and the numerous other initiatives, the strategic importance, value and scarcity of Woxna is enhanced in our opinion.
For the Norra Karr project, we took the decision to initiate a Natura 2000 permit application process. By doing this based on the new design of the Norra Karr project we will benefit from authorities and other stakeholders evaluating the merits of the project based on the most recent plans that substantially reduce the potential for environmental risk. In parallel, through the various environmental and metallurgical studies that may be required to support the Natura 2000 permit application the Company can further progress the Norra Karr project towards its next stages of feasibility development. We will continue to adapt our path should the legal framework evolve going forward. Aspects of the proposed EUCRMA appear particularly relevant to this project.
As reported, continued work at our Bihor Sud Ni-Co exploration project in
High levels of radon gas readings resulted in time needing to be taken to design, order and have a ventilation system installed. While this was done, we took the opportunity to dig and sample five exploration trenches.
As communicated, in situ samples from gallery walls reported 30% Ni and 4.7% Co. And the trenches have yielded very encouraging results with apparently important Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization continuously over 1 km strike. Basically, we are reassured that these latest results continue to confirm our prior stated beliefs and that this truly is an incredible exploration project with scale and high grade potential.
Now that ventilation has been successful installed in G4, additional ventilation will be added to G7. The company can now engage in its planned underground channel sampling program and follow up on planning an underground drilling program.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- https://www.electrive.com/2023/06/14/eu-parliament-approves-comprehensive-battery-market-regulation/
- See National Instrument 43-101 report entitled “NI 43-101 Technical Report – Woxna Graphite” prepared for
Woxna Graphite AB with effective dateJune 9, 2021 and issue dateJuly 23, 2021 . See Leading Edge Materials Corp.’s SEDAR profile on www.sedar.com or www.leadingedgematerials.com for report and more information. The PEA is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. - https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/nzia-act-now-or-europes-wind-turbines-will-be-made-in-china/?ref=mainbanner
- https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/germany-draws-up-e2-billion-state-fund-to-secure-key-commodities
- https://www.economie.gouv.fr/france-2030
- [6] https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions/executive-summary
- [7] https://www.fastmarkets.com/commodity-price/graphite-flake-94-c-100-mesh-fob-china-mb-gra-0042
Financial Information
The report for three months ending
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
For further information, please contact the Company at:
info@leadingedgematerials.com
www.leadingedgematerials.com
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About
Additional Information
The Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the six months ended
The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out above, on
Reader Advisory
Certain information in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, “Forward-Looking Statements”). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, addressing activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are Forward-Looking Statements. Forward-Looking Statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend” and statements that an event or result “may,” “will,” “can,” “should,” “could,” or “might” occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-Looking Statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-Looking Statements are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the Forward-Looking Statements including, among other things, the Company has yet to generate a profit from its activities; there can be no guarantee that the estimates of quantities or qualities of minerals disclosed in the Company’s public record will be economically recoverable; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; competition with other companies within the mining industry; the success of the Company is largely dependent upon the performance of its directors and officers and the Company’s ability to attract and train key personnel; changes in world metal markets and equity markets beyond the Company’s control; the possibility of write-downs and impairments; the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of exploration; development and production; the risks associated with changes in the mining regulatory regime governing the Company; the risks associated with tenure to the Norra Karr property; the risks associated with the various environmental regulations the Company is subject to; rehabilitation and restitution costs; the Woxna project has never defined a mineral reserve or a feasibility study and the associated increased risk of technical and economic failure in case of restarting production; risks relating to the preliminary and non-binding nature of the MOU with Sicona. On
Attachments
- 20230621 LEM 2023Q2 press release
- Financial Report Q2
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