"The train will definitely run. There is far too much profit to be made for all sides. The question is ....when"
A much used analogy on this forum is the steam locomotive gathering steam and the train leaving the station. but how many of us actually remember the event in true life. In the 1950's there were 9 trains running cross country at any given time. These always had the big power and speed was the word of the day, so even while sitting at a station the locomotive was chugging away providing heat and power to the passenger cars.
Then there were the branch lines, and wayfreights, where the train slowly moved from siding to siding, picking up grain cars or whatever, that always had an old passenger car tied on just in front of the caboose, and heat was provided by a pot bellied coal stove at one end. It could take all day to go 100 miles.
Today we seem to be travelling by one of these wayfreights, but remember that at some time we are going to hit the mainline, and if we are going to travel further on it we have to be capable of the required speed.
We know there is going to be development in the ROF.We know that Noront (or their purchaser) will be part of that development. That alone says we will be worth a multiple of todays SP. On that basis we know we are going to arrive at the mainline at some time in the future, but what is going to give us what we need to travel on it?
There are 4 exploration programs ongoing at the moment;
KWG is drilling to update the chrome that we all know about, so there will be nothing earth shattering coming from them.
FNC is there also, but seem to have nothing. All their interest seems to be a result of other properties.
The other two are NOT with AT12, and UC who are drilling the copper/zinc.
UC is going to open a few eyes when they do announce results, but more so if they can hold off until we know more about infrastructure.
Noront, with their AT12 knowledge, and with the geological work that has been completed by now, have the best shot at bringing us the news required to really move this play onto the mainline. Good news from here would likely speed up any infrastructure announcement also.
As has always been the case, there are still many opportunities to profit from any of the players in the area, but the best bet is still our (beloved?) Noront.
Best regards
K
