RIU Conference to focus on next big ASX discovery

The next big discovery will be the focus of this week’s RIU Resurgence Conference where a host of ASX-listed companies will promote their activities to an investor audience across a two-day event in Perth.

Hosted by Vertical Events, this year’s presentations include a diverse group of ASX-listed companies with a variety of portfolios from emerging battery technologies to the latest in resources exploration around the world including lithium, gold, rare earth elements and more.

Highlighting what appears to be a significant discovery in the Esperance region of WA, Meeka Metals is one of a number of explorers that have identified clay-hosted rare earth elements and moved quickly to establish a foothold in the exciting new resource province. The company recently uncovered record grades of rare earth elements mineralisation at its Circle Valley project almost tripling the previously recorded highs.

One assay went 12m at 2690 parts per million total rare earth oxides from 20m, or “TREO” including 4m at 6894ppm TREO from 20m. Speaking on the first day of the event, Meeka Metals Managing Director Tim Davidson will give an update on the latest discoveries at its Esperance tenements in addition to recent developments at the explorer’s Murchison gold project.

Adding an international element to this year’s proceedings will be Winsome Resources that is approaching its first anniversary since listing on the ASX.

The explorer has made significant progress through its drilling program at its flagship Cancet and Adina projects in Canada and has witnessed a significant increase in its share price over the past two months. The company says its recent growth is testament to the strength of the lithium market, the building story of Quebec as a major lithium province and the ongoing development of the positive news coming from its exploration efforts.

Winsome expects its latest assay results from the current drill programs at Cancet and Adina before Christmas.

“We expect initial assay results from the current drill programs at Cancet and Adina before Christmas. With plans for ongoing drilling at both sites through the winter and well into the next calendar year, Winsome is on track to declare maiden resources at both projects mid-next year.“ Winsome Resources Managing Director, Chris Evans said.

Evans will provide an update on the company’s projects on the second day of this year’s conference.  

Proving that the next big discovery is not always in mining exploration, battery technology company Altech Chemicals this month unveiled a 60KWh battery called the ABS60 that uses garden variety table salt instead of lithium and other critical metals typically found in a lithium battery. The company’s latest breakthrough is designed to fill the need for middle and long-duration power sources that provide sustained power over long periods. Altech’s new battery also boasts wider temperature ranges which means they can withstand the freezing European winters, they are weatherproof and can be installed outdoors and are fire-proof, making them safer for indoor use.

The ABS60 is also projected to last longer and the company calculates the production cost will be about 40 per cent cheaper than lithium-ion competitors, primarily because there is no need for lithium, copper, cobalt or graphite. Altech Managing Director Iggy Tan will share the latest updates on the emerging technology on the opening day of the conference.

The first RIU Resurgence Conference was launched in September 2020 by Vertical Events. The company says at the time the event was the first live conference attracting over 500 delegates since the March 2020 COVID lockdown. The conference returned in 2021 for two days at The Westin Perth where it provided an opportunity for junior and mid-sized resources companies to promote their activities to attending investors whilst also live streaming to all parts of the world.

In addition to a broad range of presentations from ASX-listed companies, the event will also feature a number of keynote speakers including major sponsor Argonaut Funds Management Executive Director David Franklyn, Seequent Senior Project Geologist Richard Millington, METS Engineering Principal Consulting Engineer Damian Connelly and many more.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au