Orbite Technologies Inc (EORBF)

[nagoya1]

I think the plant will be fine from this as well, EOR.
lol

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/cree-hunter-spots-pair-bigfoot-near-wemindji-que-100707304.html

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - chart update - downtrend continues

[nagoya1]

LOL, I knew what you meant....

I guess an "ice storm" and hot air combo could also do the job.lol

Good luck with your quest. H
Have a good weekend, EOR

[nsomniyak]

hmm, I was thinking of something involving much less technology, and also far less clothing...

[nagoya1]

LOL, if it was an ice storm, I would be more interested with the end result, no electricity. The 1998 storm was something to see and to experience,imo. I think that EOR will be fine without experiencing any grid problems, the hydro lines system was rebuilt to last heavy ice accumulation. It's going to get interesting with Orbite when they can get their plant up and running. EOR
Have a good weekend.

[nsomniyak]

There are a lot of guys who would pay very big money for a "French Tornado" :)

[nagoya1]

Too funny, when there are tornadoes in Quebec, they last a few minutes at the most. The basically touch land and spiral back upwards. The building is safe,EORBF.

[morongobill]

Severe weather alert! Orbite research lab threatened!
An amazing photo below of a tornado as it threatens the
Orbite Research Lab in Quebec. The tornado formed as severe
weather pounded the area. No injuries were reported,
and the priceless archives are intact.



Thank God my investment is still safe!

[morongobill]

Little company, great big penny stock world!
http://orbitealum.blogspot.com/2013/08/little-company-great-big-penny-stock.html

[Tommy]

$EORBF - Orbite Announces Second Quarter 2013 Results

http://www.orbitealuminae.com/en/news/press-releases/orbite-announces-second-quarter-2013-results/

..."Montreal, Quebec. August 9, 2013 – Orbite Aluminae Inc. (TSX: ORT / OTCQX: EORBF) (“Orbite”, or the “Corporation”) announced today the filing of its unaudited financial and operating results for its quarter ended June 30, 2013. The Corporation reported a net loss of $3.4 million ($0.02 per share) for the second quarter of 2013 compared to $6.1 million ($0.03 per share) for the second quarter of 2012. All dollar amounts are in Canadian dollars unless stated otherwise.

Second Quarter Highlights:

· Mr. Glenn R. Kelly joined Orbite as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

· Mr. Denis Arguin joined as VP operations

· Appointments of Mr. Peter Crossgrove, Mr. Pascal Decary and Mr. Claude Lamoureux to the Board of Directors and the resignations of Mr. Toby Gilsig, Mr. Charles Chevrette and Mr. Michael Hanley

· Provided updated capital cost estimates for completing the HPA plant to a capacity of 3 tonnes per day

· Concluded an agreement resolving the billing dispute with its principal suppliers

· Concluded a binding offtake agreement with Glencore International AG for the purchase of 100% of the smelter-grade alumina from the Corporation’s proposed SGA plant

· Initiated the implementation of measures with the objective of reducing its operating capital requirements including abolishment of 2 positions at management level

· Cash and Short-Term Investments of $8.8 million

· Other Current Assets of $5.2 million

· Non-current Investment tax credits receivable of $24.7 million

· Property, Plant and Equipment of $61.3 million

· Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities of $5.4 million

· Comprehensive loss of $3.4 million or $0.02 per share

· Cash flows used in operating activities of $4.8 million

· Cash flows used for investing activities of $6.7 million

“We instituted important changes since the beginning of the second quarter and initiated a cost reduction program adapted to our short term priority which is to complete the high-purity alumina plant within the new timetable which remains subject to securing sufficient funding” said Richard Boudreault, President and Chief Executive Officer. The Corporation is currently focused on the advancement of the following projects, briefly described in order of priority:" ...

[Tommy]

$EORBF - Orbite Announces Changes to Management

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/orbite-announces-changes-management-203442015.html

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Aug 6, 2013) - Orbite Aluminae Inc. (ORT.TO)(EORBF) (Orbite or the Company) today announced two changes to its senior management team.

Effective today, the Company has abolished the position of Vice President Corporate Development, which was held by Marc Johnson and the position of Vice President Sustainability, which was held by Guy-Louis Boucher.

"I'd like to thank Marc and Guy-Louis for their hard work and dedication," said Glenn Kelly, Orbite's Chief Operating Officer. "We have undertaken these changes as part of our mandate to build a new Orbite that is more capital efficient and focused on achieving its short term goals, notably the finalization of our HPA facility."

About Orbite

Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian Corporation with innovative and proprietary processes that are expected to produce alumina and other high-value by-products, such as rare earth and rare metal oxides, at one of the lowest costs in the industry, without generating any wastes, using feedstocks that include aluminous clay, kaolin, nepheline, bauxite, red mud and fly ash. Orbite is currently operating and optimizing its first commercial high-purity alumina (HPA) production plant in Cap-Chat, Québec. Orbite has completed the basic engineering for a proposed smelter-grade alumina (SGA) production plant, which would use clay mined from its Grande-Vallée deposit. Orbite signed an exclusive worldwide collaborative agreement with Veolia Environmental Services for the remediation of red mud using the Orbite processes with the intent to begin construction of a Veolia-operated plant. The Corporation has an intellectual property portfolio that contains 14 IP families and owns the intellectual property rights to nine patents and 40 pending patent applications in 10 different countries.

[Tommy]

Orbite Finalizes Settlement Agreements with Gastier MP and Vtek Consultants


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/orbite-finalizes-settlement-agreements-gastier-210000827.html

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jul 23, 2013) - Orbite Aluminae Inc. (ORT.TO)(EORBF) ("Orbite") announces the issuance of an aggregate of 14,525,146 class A shares at a price of C$0.945 per share to Gastier MP Inc. and Vtek Consultants Inc., two of its suppliers, in full settlement of their respective outstanding claims. The shares are issued pursuant to settlement agreements summarized in Orbite's final short form prospectus dated July 15, 2013, which qualifies the issuance of the shares.

About Orbite

Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian Corporation with innovative and proprietary processes that is expected to produce alumina and other high-value by-products, such as rare earth and rare metal oxides, at one of the lowest costs in the industry, without generating any wastes, using feedstocks that include aluminous clay, kaolin, nepheline, bauxite, red mud and fly ash. Orbite is currently operating and optimizing its first commercial high-purity alumina (HPA) production plant in Cap-Chat, Québec. Orbite has completed the basic engineering for a proposed smelter-grade alumina (SGA) production plant, which would use clay mined from its Grande-Vallée deposit. Orbite signed an exclusive worldwide collaborative agreement with Veolia Environmental Services for the remediation of red mud using the Orbite processes with the intent to construct a Veolia-operated plant. The Corporation has an intellectual property portfolio that contains 14 IP families and owns the intellectual property rights to ten patents and 40 pending patent applications in 10 different countries.

[morongobill]

http://orbitealum.blogspot.com/2013/07/thoughts-regarding-this-latest-pp-and.html

[morongobill]

http://orbitealum.blogspot.com/2013/07/whats-really-happening-with-orbite.html

excerpt: WWMRD? What would Marc Rich do?

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - Orbite Announces Terms of its Previously Announced Equity Financing

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/orbite-announces-terms-of-its-previously-announced-equity-financing-tsx-ort-1807062.htm

Orbite Aluminae Inc. (TSX:ORT)(OTCQX:EORBF) ("Orbite" or the "Corporation") announced today that it has fixed the terms of its previously announced "best efforts" marketed offering (the "Offering") of units consisting of class A shares and warrants of Orbite with its syndicate of agents led by Euro Pacific Canada Inc. and including National Bank Financial Inc. (collectively the "Agents"). The Corporation has reached its financing objectives as it anticipates raising minimum gross proceeds of C$35 Million and maximum gross proceeds of C$50 Million, at a price of C$0.70 per unit, each unit consisting of one class A share and one-half class A share purchase warrant, each whole warrant being exercisable at an exercise price of C$1.00 for a period of 36 months following issuance (the "Units").

In addition, the Corporation has granted the Agents the option to purchase up to that number of additional Units as is equal to 15% of the number of Units issued under the Offering during the 30-day period immediately following the Closing Date to cover over-allotments and for market stabilization purposes (the "Over-Allotment Option").

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used primarily to complete the Corporation's high-purity alumina plant located in Cap-Chat, Quebec and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

The Units will be offered in Canada by short form prospectus, and in other jurisdictions on a private placement basis, exempt from any prospectus, registration or other similar requirements. The offering is expected to close on or about July 12, 2013, subject to regulatory approvals.

A copy of the Corporation's preliminary short form prospectus is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

This release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. The securities referred to in this press release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Orbite

Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian Corporation with innovative and proprietary processes that is expected to produce alumina and other high-value by-products, such as rare earth and rare metal oxides, at one of the lowest costs in the industry, without generating any wastes, using feedstocks that include aluminous clay, kaolin, nepheline, bauxite, red mud and fly ash. Orbite is currently operating and optimizing its first commercial high-purity alumina (HPA) production plant in Cap-Chat, Québec. Orbite has completed the basic engineering for a proposed smelter-grade alumina (SGA) production plant, which would use clay mined from its Grande-Vallée deposit. Orbite signed an exclusive worldwide collaborative agreement with Veolia Environmental Services for the remediation of red mud using the Orbite processes with the intent to construct a Veolia-operated plant. The Corporation has an intellectual property portfolio that contains 14 IP families and owns the intellectual property rights to nine patents and 40 pending patent applications in 10 different countries.

[morongobill]

Wash, rinse, repeat. This is the title of my post on Orbite's new dilution scheme, I mean financing scheme at my blog.

http://orbitealum.blogspot.com/2013/06/wash-rinse-repeat.html

[morongobill]

Be careful what you wish for.
Marc Rich, former fugitive financier, founded the firm decades ago and set the corporate "buccaneer" culture.
He may be gone from his old company but his spirit lives on at Glencore.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-08/glencore-s-glasenberg-returns-to-marc-rich-trading-roots-with-xstrata-deal.html
This is the only company that I know of with a corporate culture that allows subordinates to confront a superior to his face if a deal made isn't tough enough, if Glencore didn't come out of the deal with the others' "family silver" dirt cheap.
So Nakate is on to something with his reservations.
Don't think a hostile takeover is out of the question either.
The Xstrata part of the new name is there because it turned hostile at the end of the courtship dance. Most of the top managers from the Xstrata side are now gone. Richer now but gone nonetheless.
If you can take your eyes off the ticker for a few minutes, you might want to read this 7 page investigative story at the prestigious Foreign Policy website about Glencore and how it does business, long behind the scenes but now after the IPO, publicly. It goes into some detail about the influence Marc Rich had upon this firm. It is an interesting read.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/04/23/a_giant_among_giants
It is often said that the devil is in the details.
In this case, one day it might be said that the management of Orbite got into bed with the devil.
Both sayings may be true in this case, they are not mutually exclusive terms when applied to Glencore.
Nakate was right and I paraphrase here. Sure I will buy all you can make in the future, once you get your fancy new plant built. No money out of my pocket now, or as we used to say back home in south Georgia, it ain't no sweat off my as-.
The devil will be in the details when Orbite goes hat in hand to Glencore for some of their mucho dinero required to build the SGA plant or plants.
That will be where the rubber truly meets the road.
All Orbite brings to the table is a much hyped new technology that requires a whole lot of big bucks to get off the ground.
Orbite doesn't have a pot to pis- in or a window to throw it out of.
The Veolia's and Glencore's of the world got chamber pots in abundance and many windows to dump them out of. At a cost. A big cost. They hold all the aces in this poker game and they play to win.
Especially Glencore, You shake their negotiator's hand at the bargaining table, you had dam- well better count your fingers when you get the hand back. They drive hard bargains and don't give up their jack unless it will be on extremely advantageous terms for Glencore.
It is a good thing that RB isn't doing the negotiating for us on this one, imo. We would be rolled, no doubt in my mind, none. Kelly and company, hopefully, will navigate these dangerous shoals ahead skillfully and extract something for Orbite and its' shareholders, considering who holds all the cards, they will play them to the best of their ability.
You see it really does boil down to faith in the end. I have faith that Glencore and Veolia being the big dogs will drive a hard bargain, and that the little pretty coquette, Orbite, will play hard to get but in the end will succumb to their blandishments and the deal will be consummated, but not on terms that we might approve of here at this forum.
Note- this is a repost of something I wrote and just put up at Stockhouse that may be of interest to readers here.

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - Orbite Announces Offtake Agreement with Glencor

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/orbite-announces-offtake-agreement-glencore-210100773.html


MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jun 17, 2013) - Orbite Aluminae Inc. (ORT.TO)(EORBF) ("Orbite" or the "Corporation") today announced an offtake agreement with Glencore International AG ("Glencore"), a subsidiary of Glencore Xstrata plc ("Glencore Xstrata"), for the purchase of smelter-grade alumina from the Corporation's proposed smelter-grade alumina (SGA) plant in Quebec, Canada.

The Agreement provides for the purchase by Glencore of 100% of the smelter-grade alumina, from the Corporation's first proposed SGA plant in Quebec, Canada, for an initial term of 10 years from the commencement of commercial production. The Agreement also foresees that Orbite and Glencore will undertake negotiations relating to Glencore's potential financial participation in the ownership and operation of the Corporation's proposed SGA plant in Quebec. The Parties have not set any timetable for the commencement or conclusion of these negotiations. All other terms of the Agreement, including pricing and renewal rights, are confidential for competitive reasons.

"We are definitely pleased to be executing our first offtake agreement with a company of Glencore's stature and experience in the alumina industry," said Glenn Kelly, Orbite's Chief Operating Officer.

Glencore Xstrata is one of the world's largest global diversified natural resource companies with pro forma revenues of $236 billion in 2012. Glencore Xstrata's industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global network of more than 90 offices located in more than 50 countries, with diversified operations comprised of more than 150 mining and metallurgical sites, offshore oil production assets, farms and agricultural facilities.

The Metals and Minerals division is focused on alumina/aluminum, copper, nickel, zinc/lead, alloys, and iron ore, with interests in both controlled and non-controlled industrial assets that include mining, smelting, refining and warehousing operations.

About Orbite

Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian Corporation with innovative and proprietary processes that is expected to produce alumina and other high-value by-products, such as rare earth and rare metal oxides, at one of the lowest costs in the industry, without generating any wastes, using feedstocks that include aluminous clay, kaolin, nepheline, bauxite, red mud and fly ash. Orbite is currently operating and optimizing its first commercial high-purity alumina (HPA) production plant in Cap-Chat, Québec. Orbite has completed the basic engineering for a proposed smelter-grade alumina (SGA) production plant, which would use clay mined from its Grande-Vallée deposit. Orbite signed an exclusive worldwide collaborative agreement with Veolia Environmental Services for the remediation of red mud using the Orbite processes with the intent to construct a Veolia-operated plant. The Corporation has an intellectual property portfolio that contains 14 IP families and owns the intellectual property rights to nine patents and 40 pending patent applications in 10 different countries.

For more information on the Corporation or to download our corporate presentation please visit: www.orbitealuminae.com

[apatel1]

Orbite Provides Updated Capital Cost and Timeline Estimates for HPA Plant and Appoints New VP Operations

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jun 6, 2013) - Orbite Aluminae Inc. (ORT.TO)(EORBF) ("Orbite" or the "Corporation") today reported updated capital cost and timeline estimates for completing its high-purity alumina (HPA) production plant in Cap-Chat, Quebec and announced the appointment of Mr. Denis Arguin as Vice President Operations.

Updated HPA Plant Capital Cost and Timeline Estimates

Orbite commissioned and recently received two independent capital cost and timeline estimates (the "Independent Estimates") for completing the HPA production plant in Cap-Chat, Quebec, including the installation of the new calcination system. These were subsequently reviewed and analysed by Orbite management and engineers, and were also compared to a third estimate prepared by our general contractor. The Corporation is now in a position to report updated capital cost and timeline estimates to achieve the Phase II production capacity of 3 tonnes per day.

In its Management Discussion and Analysis for the period ended December 31, 2012 (the "December MD&A"), the Corporation estimated that capital costs for the HPA plant totalling $85 million before refundable investment tax credits ("RITC") (or $55 million net of RITC) would be required to complete the plant. As at March 31, 2013, the Corporation had incurred external capital costs of $74.9 million (or $51.2 million net of RITC). Based on the Independent Estimates, the Corporation is revising its capital cost estimate, before RITC, to $105.9 million (or $75.9 million net of RITC), which represents an increase of $20.9 million to the estimate provided in the December MD&A and includes $6.7 million in contingency and critical spare parts. As a result, the projected total external capital costs required to complete the construction and commissioning of the HPA production facility, in addition to those already incurred at March 31, 2013, are as follows:

(in 1,000)

- Engineering and Project Management $2,540
- Material and Equipment, including Calcination System $15,090
- Labour $6,660
- Contingencies $4,220
- Critical Spare Parts & Specialty Tools $2,500
Total $31,010

The updated capital cost estimate represents the investment required to achieve the Phase II production capacity of 3 tonnes per day. A large portion of the HPA plant has been designed at a 5 tonnes per day capacity, and as such, the requisite engineering analysis to increase the total plant throughput to 5 tonnes per day, as well as to add a scandium and gallium separation facility, is expected to be completed during the second half of 2013 and the incremental capital cost estimate is expected to be reported during the first quarter of 2014.

Based on the Independent Estimates, which included a review of construction labor time, the Corporation is also updating the anticipated project timelines for achieving the Phase II production capacity of 3 tonnes per day to the end of the second quarter of 2014, representing a delay of approximately 6 months from the previous estimates. This is based upon a 12-month project execution timeline commencing once the Corporation has raised the necessary capital to proceed.

"Given the highly detailed effort employed by both independent engineering firms in preparing the revised estimates and by Orbite management in vetting them, we are confident in meeting both the cost and timeline targets. In addition, a large part of my personal responsibilities will be to deliver this facility on time and within budget," said Glenn Kelly, EVP and Chief Operating Officer.

In the interim, the commissioned segments of the HPA plant are expected to continue to be operated intermittently at a Phase I production capacity averaging less than one tonne per day of HPA at a purity of 99.99% (4N) or better. Customer samples of HPA will continue to be shipped as material of the appropriate purity and characteristics is produced to satisfy existing and prospective orders. The Corporation is pleased to report that initial feedback has been positive and that it has successfully produced densified and spheronized product for additional shipments to a prospective client satisfied with initial product quality.

Construction costs on expenditures related to the construction and expansion of manufacturing and processing facilities in the Gaspé region of Québec, incurred in 2012 and in 2013 and not exceeding an aggregate of $75 million, are eligible for an RITC of 40%, while amounts exceeding $75 million are eligible for an RITC of 5%, subject to approval from the tax authorities. This upper limit of RITC is presently being re-evaluated by the Québec Government. The Corporation has pledged all of its 2012 and 2013 RITCs, to an aggregate of $25 million, as security for the $25 million of convertible debentures issued in December 2012.

Cost and timeline estimates are forward looking statements and are based on information available at the time and/or the Corporation management's good-faith beliefs with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Corporation's control. The Corporation continuously evaluates the cost and timeline to completion as events unfolds. In addition, the Corporation will require additional funding to complete its HPA plant. There can be no assurance that the Corporation will be able to obtain additional funding on favourable terms, if at all. These and other risks are disclosed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and otherwise referenced in our 2013 Q1 MD&A which is available on the Corporation's website or under the Corporation's profile on www.sedar.com.

New Vice President Operations

Mr. Denis Arguin will join Orbite in the newly created position of Vice President Operations, effective June 10, and will report to Glenn Kelly, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

"Mr. Arguin's broad and deep experience in engineering and operations further strengthens the team we are building at Orbite," said Glenn Kelly, Orbite's Chief Operating Officer. "Mr. Arguin's first and only priority will be the completion of the HPA plant in Cap-Chat."

Mr. Denis Arguin joins Orbite from his position as Vice President, Strategic and Technological Business Development at Enerkem, which is a private company headquartered in Montreal with 150 employees in Canada and the United States, with proprietary technology for waste-to-biofuels from municipal solid waste, where he joined in 2008 as Vice President, Engineering and Operations. Previously, Mr. Arguin was Director of Process Technology at Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI) in Pennsylvania (USA), and as Director of European Operations for a division of MTI, based in Brussels. He has also held positions of Regional Manager - Operations, for the Northeast Canada and U.S. region at Mintech Canada Inc. He also gained extensive experience at petrochemical companies such as Kemtec, Union Carbide, and Gulf Oil Refinery Ltd. Mr. Arguin holds an Executive MBA in Operations Management from the University of Western Ontario, and a Bachelor's Degree (B.Science) in Chemical Engineering from Université de Sherbrooke. He has been a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec since 1984.

About Orbite

Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian Corporation with innovative and proprietary processes that is expected to produce alumina and other high-value by-products, such as rare earth and rare metal oxides, at one of the lowest costs in the industry, without generating any wastes, using feedstocks that include aluminous clay, kaolin, nepheline, bauxite, red mud and fly ash. Orbite is currently operating and optimizing its first commercial high-purity alumina (HPA) production plant in Cap-Chat, Québec. Orbite has completed the basic engineering for a proposed smelter-grade alumina (SGA) production plant, which would use clay mined from its Grande-Vallée deposit. Orbite signed an exclusive worldwide collaborative agreement with Veolia Environmental Services for the remediation of red mud using the Orbite processes with the intent to begin construction of a Veolia-operated plant in 2014. The Corporation owns the intellectual property rights to nine patents and 32 pending patent applications in 10 different countries. Its intellectual property portfolio now contains 14 intellectual property families.

For more information on the Corporation or to download our corporate presentation please visit: www.orbitealuminae.com

[morongobill]

Thoughts on the Veolia/Orbite/RB situation.

http://orbitealum.blogspot.com/2013/06/on-imminent-veoliaorbite-dance-of-amour.html

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - Chart Update

[morongobill]

I believe hedge funds are allowed to trade it and with the lack of transparency nowadays thanks to regulators on both sides of the border, probably can naked short the stock at will.

Somebody was sure doing a good job of shorting the last few months, that's for sure.

Here is a "must read" for an update on the trading and exchange situation:

http://www.equedia.com/why-the-tsx-venture-is-failing/

As a bonus, here is a great read over at SI about the situation with Orbite and Veolia:

http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=28915525

[Wildbilly]

Sorry Bill, I've lost touch
with what was once the most promising of the junior miner Rare Earth co.s (REEs). Opportunity seems to be soaring in the space at the moment, investors are pouring back into MCP for ex.

http://rareearthinvestingnews.com/10306-japan-on-buying-spree-as-chinese-ree-exports-soar.html?utm_source=Resource+Investing+News&utm_campaign=14309121f8-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f83d87db0f-14309121f8-248720677

I'm sorry once again for my ignorance, but I'm trying to do a digested version of getting back into this space and you seem to be on top of it.

Are Hedge Funds even permitted to invest in this security?

I fear that the hedge funds etc may continue their attacks on the share price and with further devastating effects

Japan on Buying Spree as Chinese REE Exports Soar
Monday May 27, 2013, 4:30am PDT
By Andrew Topf - Exclusive to Rare Earth Investing News


Chinese rare earth exports have shown a marked uptrend in the first four months of the year, underpinned by strong demand from Japan which is taking advantage of current low prices, according to media reports on Friday. 

The Wall Street Journal reported that REE exports from China, the world’s largest consumer and producer of the rare metals, were six times higher than a year earlier in April, at 2,196 metric tonnes, and a 28 percent increase from March. Data from the China Customs Statistics Information Center shows a direct correlation between the steady increases in export volumes since January, when only 1,092 tonnes were exported, and the falling prices of processed rare earth products. The average Chinese export price for a basket of rare earths was US$42,344 in April compared to $58,275 in January.

The uptick in exports reverses a trend of declining Chinese REE exports that took place in 2012, caused in part by a lull in worldwide demand for the materials combined with factors such as a World Trade Organization challenge to Chinese REE export quotas, and non-Chinese sources like Molycorp  (NYSE:MCP) and Lynas (ASX:LYC) supplying more of the metals used in green technologies, electronics and military applications. There has also been a movement among auto manufacturers to reduce or recycle rare earth materials. Given those factors, where is the new demand coming from? Experts point to a revival in the Japanese economy.

Japan, which accounts for two-thirds of China’s rare earth exports, is seeing higher economic growth since the government embarked on a massive stimulus spending program, and that is giving Japanese rare earth consumers the confidence to place more orders.

Japan is buying more because “prices are so low at this point that it’s really helped to boost exports,” Frank Tang, a rare earths analyst from North Square Blue Oak, told WSJ.

Companies in Japan and Europe are also picking up more rare metals now because their stockpiles, which only last six months to a year, are currently drawn down, said a spokeswoman from the China Association of Rare Earth Industry quoted by the Journal.

The news that Japan is buying more rare earths from China appears to strengthen the trade ties between the two countries and also indicates Japan’s continued reliance on China for its rare earths. The Asian superpowers have traded barbs recently over sovereignty of a group of islands, and while the dispute is territorial and diplomatic in nature, it has spilled into the economic realm, and even affected Sino-Japanese trade, according to an analysis published by Delta.

In part due to this dispute, and also because Japan’s high-tech and defence industries are heavily reliant upon access to rare earths, Japan has tried to reduce its dependency on China by finding its own sources of rare earth elements.

Rare Earth Investing News reported in April the discovery by Japanese researchers of a large deposit of rare earths in the seabed surrounding Minami-Tori-shima Island in the Pacific Ocean.

The deposit can apparently be mined at low cost and will be able to produce materials that are 20 to 30 times more concentrated than those currently being mined in China.

Also, earlier this year, Japanese mining company Nippon Light Metal Holdings Company (TSE:5703) stated that Jamaica may host a large amount of REEs in its red mud, or bauxite residue. 

Could the boosted demand for Chinese rare earths, which compose 95 percent of the REE market, be a signal for heightened global rare earth demand and a catalyst for price increases? The answer to that question is not so clear.

WSJ reports a spokesman for US producer Molycorp as saying that the momentum in China’s REE exports is “a positive sign,” but may only be temporary:

“It’s probably too soon to tell with any significant degree of confidence,” said Jim Sims. “Inventories have been built up over the past several years, and they are returning to more normal levels now… With the continuing volatility in rare-earth volumes and prices, it is a bit early to conclude that this is the start of a real global recovery of demand or just a temporary spike in demand.”

[morongobill]

http://orbitealum.blogspot.com/2013/05/those-planning-on-speaking-at-agm_25.html

[stills999]

I think we are commingling two scenarios: short attacks vs. the company technology/fundamentals. I agree issues with the latter would be devastating, but share-price declines due to short-attacks would only be temporary in effect (and thus only an opportunity for longs), no?

[morongobill]

Appreciate the comments and will attempt to answer your questions.

I cannot tell you where this stock is going to end up and also cannot say if the technology will work out as well as the engineers say it will. Historically it hasn't. The shorters believe it won't and have driven this stock down repeatedly to the near one buck level.

This technology does have tremendous potential and they now have Outatec delivering the new calcinator oven soon to hopefully wipe out the last bugs in the process and to allow eventual ramping up to 5 tons per day of HPA.

My most earnest wish is that it will work, we will have to wait and see however.

While we are waiting however, I fear that the hedge funds etc may continue their attacks on the share price and with further devastating effects. My concern is whether the company's stock can weather many more such attacks.

I cannot recommend to you or anyone else to buy this stock right now,unless you are financially able to possibly lose every last penny of your investment stake. This is no intellectual evercise, nor a game, serious damage is being done to little investors in this stock right now and virtually every day lately.

[stills999]

Thanks for the Blog!

When reading it, I could not keep hearing in my head "in the short-term the stock market is a voting machine, but in the long-term it is a weighing machine".

If so, wouldn't an 'artificially' low share price be an even better opportunity in the long term?

I guess I'm asking, if indeed the share price has been manipulated downwards, as the company proves itself, won't share price recover eventually and reward buyers at these prices to an even greater extent than without the manipulation?

Just trying to get my head around your thinking long-term how this might play out?

[morongobill]

Investing(Speculating) in the junior resource sector- not for the faint of heart.

My take based primarily with my experience being long Orbite.

http://heavyreenews.com/?p=213

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - Orbite Aluminae's Global Patents Drive Changes to the Alumina Industry - Video

http://www.stockhouse.com/news/usreleasesdetail.aspx?n=8784174

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 5, 2013) - Marc Johnson, Vice-President Corporate Development, Orbite Aluminae Inc (TSX: ORT) (OTCQX: EORBF) in an interview with Tracy Weslosky, Publisher of ProEdgeWire (ProEdgeWire.com) comments on recent developments stating "…we announced that we received our patents for the process in Russia and China, so at this point we are patented in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Russia and China."

Orbite Aluminae also has plans to change the alumina industry "…by building several smelter grade alumina plants serving Quebec which is the third largest alumina producing region in the world."

Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian cleantech company whose innovative technologies are setting the new standard for alumina production. Orbite technologies enable environmentally-neutral extraction of smelter-grade alumina (SGA), high-purity alumina (HPA) and high-value elements, including rare earths and rare metals, from a variety of sources such as aluminous clay and bauxite, without generating the toxic red mud residue that the traditional Bayer process produces.

[morongobill]

Up on strong volume and really no news.

My hope is that a lot of this volume is institutional, here for the long haul, and willing to have patience.

It would be nice to have a solid floor to build a long term rally on.

[nagoya1]

The climb back up has begun. EORBF

[morongobill]

Guess I may get banned over at Silicon Investor for this post about Orbite Aluminae.

My attempt to buck up the longs today during this bear attack.

http://heavyreenews.com/?p=190

[morongobill]

Last on Orbite Aluminae for a while, bear attack over, chances of a further crash remote.
http://heavyreenews.com/?p=188

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - Orbite Files Base Shelf Prospectus

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/orbite-files-shelf-prospectus-164438434.html

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Apr 3, 2013) - Orbite Aluminae Inc. (ORT.TO)(EORBF) ("Orbite" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it is increasing the Company's financial flexibility by having filed a preliminary short form base shelf prospectus (the "Prospectus") with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada. The Prospectus is not a commitment to undertake any financing but provides flexibility over the normal course of business to fund the Company's projects over the 25-month period that it remains effective.

"Orbite is still a development-stage company with multiple projects, each with different capital requirements over the next two years. Once filed, this shelf prospectus will increase the Company's financial flexibility to fund our projects in a timely and effective manner during the next 25-months," stated Richard Boudreault, Orbite's President and CEO. "We are continuously assessing financing options to advance Orbite's projects, including joint-venture partnerships, project debt financings, strategic investments and equity financings, all with the ultimate objective of maximizing shareholder value."

These filings, when made final, will allow the Company to make offerings of debt securities, common shares, warrants, subscription receipts or units comprising any combination of the foregoing (all of the foregoing, collectively, the "Securities"), up to an aggregate offering of $300,000,000 during a 25-month period that the final short form base shelf prospectus, including any amendments thereto, remains effective. Securities may be offered separately or together, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined based on market conditions at the time of sale and set forth in an eventual accompanying shelf prospectus supplement and, subject to applicable regulations, may include public offerings of debt or equity, or strategic investments.

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities that may be offered under the Prospectus, and the applicable prospectus supplement, will be used by the Company for general corporate purposes, for completion of its ongoing National Instrument 43-101 compliant feasibility study for its proposed smelter grade alumina ("SGA") production plant, for detailed engineering and construction costs of the proposed SGA production plant, for detailed engineering and construction costs for the proposed Veolia Red Mud plant, for advancement and optimization of the high purity alumina plant towards its full capacity, and for ongoing research and development initiatives.

[morongobill]

Mea culpa. As pointed out to me in a comment at my blog I missed a statement in the MDA and have corrected the post which will go up in the am. See crow doesn't taste that bad.

[morongobill]

Now that the last smoke has blown away, we discover the possible reason for the ORT/EORBF stock plunge and thoughts on what we can do about it.

http://heavyreenews.com/?p=182

[nagoya1]

I have a feeling that this will shoot back up just as easily as it went down. Well at least hoping for that, lol.
EORBF

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - Orbite Responds To Recent Trading

http://www.orbitealuminae.com/en/news/press-releases/orbite-responds-recent-trading/

Montreal, Quebec. April 2, 2013 – Orbite Aluminae Inc. (TSX: ORT / OTCQX: EORBF) (“Orbite” or the “Company”) confirms that the Company is not aware of any material information that would justify the recent share price movement. The Company has issued this press release following unusual trading that occurred after the market open this morning and as a result of IIROC’s halt.

The Company would like to take this opportunity to summarize pertinent information that was included in its consolidated annual financial statements, management discussion & analysis (MD&A), and annual information form (AIF) for the year-ended December 31, 2012, all of which were filed on March 28, 2013.

The highlights of the year-end financials as of December 31, 2012, or for the year-ended are:

Cash and Cash Equivalents of $40.2 million
Total Current Assets of $48.5 million
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities of $28.6 million
Comprehensive loss of $16.9 million or $0.09 per weighted average shares outstanding
Cash flows used for operating activities of $11.9 million
Cash flows from financing activities of $30.4 million
Cash flows used for additions to PP&E of $40.1 million
Cash flows used for additions to exploration and evaluation assets of $11.2 million

Outlook for Cap-Chat HPA Plant

Orbite owns and operates a facility in Cap-Chat, Québec, that was originally operated as a pilot plant up to and until March 2012. The 2,600 m2 pilot plant has since been converted into a full-scale 5,903 m2 high-purity production plant, designed to produce alumina at a purity level of 99.99% (“4N”) and greater, which began commissioning on December 18, 2012. On January 22, 2013, Orbite announced that it had produced and independently verified the production of one tonne of HPA.

Although the commissioning and optimization activities are expected to continue further into 2013 than the Company previously anticipated, the plant is expected to achieve commercial production of 3 tpd in Q4 2013, thus completing Orbite’s conversion from a pre-revenue development company into an alumina producer.

The corporation is now focused on process optimization, which consists of gradually increasing production while preserving and increasing purity. Customer HPA samples of 4N or greater are being shipped to prospective customers, and such shipments are expected to continue as material of the appropriate purity and characteristics become available to satisfy the customer purchase orders. The HPA plant is expected to produce progressively purer samples to 4N5 and 5N throughout the remainder of Phase I. Customers are expected to test their respective HPA samples, a process which can take several months, prior to submitting purchase orders for commercial supply.

As a result of a recent management review of the project timelines, the HPA plant commissioning and optimization activities are now expected to continue into the second half of 2013. The procurement and installation of a new circulating fluid-bed (“CFB”) calcinator, to supplement the existing rotary-kiln calcinators, was previously anticipated in Q2 2013 and is now anticipated in the second half of 2013. Given the foregoing, the HPA plant will operate throughout the second quarter of 2013 at a Phase I capacity averaging less than one tonne per day, and following the commissioning of the new CFB calcinator, will increase to the Phase II capacity of three tonnes per day, anticipated in the last quarter of 2013, followed by a gradual increase to the full production capacity of five tonnes per day, expected in early 2014. The declaration of commercial production, for accounting purposes, is anticipated at the beginning of Phase II. Construction of the scandium and gallium separation facility is expected to also coincide with Phase II.

Once in Phase II, the HPA plant will begin operating using the same processes as the proposed SGA plant, and as such, is also expected to act as a demonstration plant for the SGA processes.

In its Management Discussion and Analysis for the period ended September 30, 2012, management provided forecasts of capital costs for construction, equipment and installation ranging between $26 to $30 million net of projected refundable income tax credits (“RITC”) (or $43 million to $50 million before RITC) for a production capacity of 3 tonnes of HPA per day (“tpd”). Subsequent to this estimate, management strategically opted to expand the HPA plant’s production capacity from 3 tpd to 5 tpd to take advantage of the extra nameplate capacity of the new calcinator. Orbite expects incremental costs of $25 million net of RITC (or $35 million before RITC) to adapt the process and equipment to a 5 tpd capacity. The Corporation’s decision to proceed with a capacity increase at this stage of the project was driven by a cost-benefit analysis vs. implementing it once the plant will be operating at a 3 tpd commercial production level. As a result, the total approximate projected capital cost for Orbite’s HPA production facility, provisioned at a 5 tpd capacity, is currently forecasted at $55 million net of RITC (or $85 million before RITC), to be fully incurred by the end of 2013, while maintaining an equivalent total capex per tonne ratio and improving operational costs. As at December 31, 2012, $62,730,937 had been incurred and paid by the Corporation, of which approximately $19,932,275 represents RITCs.

Outlook for proposed SGA plant

The Corporation proposes building and operating an SGA production plant (the “SGA Plant”) using clay mined from the Corporation’s Grande-Vallée deposit. The SGA Plant site selection has not been completed at the time. The SGA Plant design is based on the parameters of the Preliminary Economic Assessment with an expected production of 540,000 tonnes per year of smelter-grade alumina as well as by-products that include high-purity hematite, silica, magnesium oxide, and individually separated rare earth and rare metal oxides. The SGA Plant design is based on Orbite’s patented and patent-pending proprietary processes which involve hydrochloric acid leaching and a closed-loop acid recovery and regeneration system.

The basic design of the SGA Plant has been completed, whereas the detailed engineering is expected to be completed following the selection of a joint-venture partner(s) and SGA plant site. The Corporation anticipates the completion of a NI 43-101 compliant feasibility study technical report by the first quarter of 2014, subject to securing sufficient funding. Permitting for the mine site and SGA plant site is expected to move ahead in parallel to the detailed engineering.

The Company is pursuing discussions with prospective joint-venture partners in connection with the SGA Plant project, including UC RUSAL.

Outlook for Veolia Red Mud Demonstration Plant

On February 4, 2013, Orbite and Veolia Environmental Services signed an exclusive worldwide collaborative agreement for the treatment and remediation of red mud from stockpiles or from the effluent of existing alumina refineries. The terms of the partnership include the preparation of a study confirming the viability of a red mud treatment plant using Orbite’s proprietary processes, as well as specific milestones for the selection of a plant site, capacity, structure of the ownership and financing, of such a plant, with the intent to initiate construction in 2014. Discussions in respect of site selection, management of a co-enterprise and financial terms associated with the first plant are ongoing.

Outlook for Exploration and Evaluation Activities

Orbite intends to initiate a grassroots exploration program on its newly acquired aluminous clay claims near Rimouski and Cap-Chat in Quebec, to complete exploration activities on its kaolin clay claims under the Chaswood option agreement in Nova Scotia, as well as complete geotechnical drilling at Grande-Vallée in Quebec.

Outlook for Financial Requirements

Orbite is still a development-stage company with multiple projects, each with different capital requirements. In light of the numerous projects that the Company is developing, the Company continuously assesses financing options, including joint-venture partnerships, project debt financing and equity offering.

Notice to the reader

The information provided in this press release is entirely qualified by the disclosures in the Company’s consolidated annual financial statements, management discussion & analysis (MD&A), and annual information form (AIF) for the year-ended December 31, 2012, which are available from the Company’s website (www.orbitealuminae.com) and on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

-30-

About Orbite

Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian company whose innovative and proprietary processes can produce alumina and other high-value by-products, such as rare earth and rare metal oxides, at one of the lowest costs in the industry, without generating any wastes, using feedstocks that include aluminous clay, kaolin, nepheline, bauxite, red mud and fly ash. Orbite is currently commissioning and optimizing its first commercial high-purity alumina (HPA) production plant in Cap-Chat, Québec. A Feasibility Study for Orbite’s first smelter-grade alumina (SGA) production plant, using clay mined from its Grande Vallée deposit, is anticipated by Q1 2014. Orbite signed an exclusive worldwide collaborative agreement with Veolia Environmental Services for the remediation of red mud using the Orbite processes with the intent to begin construction of a Veolia-operated demonstration plant in 2014. The company owns the intellectual property rights to 9 patents and 32 pending patent applications in 10 different countries. Its intellectual property portfolio now contains 14 intellectual property families.

For more information on the Company or to download our corporate presentation please visit:

www.orbitealuminae.com

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - IIROC Trade Resumption - ORT (all issues)

http://app.quotemedia.com/quotetools/newsStoryPopup.go?storyId=59184374&topic=ORT:CA&symbology=null&cp=off&webmasterId=94743

Trading resumes after being halted for news

[morongobill]

My Orbite Aluminae investment is a smoldering crater, yet I still believe.

My take on events of the last 2 days.

http://heavyreenews.com/?p=179

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - Orbite Falls to Two-Year Low on Equipment Delay

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-02/orbite-falls-to-two-year-low-on-equipment-delay.html

Orbite Aluminae Inc. (ORT), the Montreal- based company seeking to extract alumina and rare-earth metals without toxic residue, fell to the lowest in more than two years as equipment delays threaten production goals.

Orbite dropped 22 percent to C$1.07 at 10:56 a.m. in Toronto, the lowest intraday price since Jan. 18, 2011. Trading, which was halted because of the decline, is expected to resume today, said Jason Morley, an Orbite spokesman who works for Stanton Public Relations & Marketing.

A delay in receiving equipment to process minerals into aluminum means the company will not meet production goals and may not generate revenue until next year, said Luisa Moreno, a Toronto-based analyst at Euro Pacific Canada Inc. The company, which has declined 56 percent this year, reported no revenue for 2010 and 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

“They’re probably only going to be able to reach commercial production by the end of this year or beginning of 2014,” Moreno said by phone today. “I assumed now there’s not going to be any revenues for this year.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Sonja Elmquist in New York at [e-mail]

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Steven Frank at [e-mail]

[nagoya1]

I have been following Orbite for a couple of months, I was interested in their new technology and was awaiting for them to start at the new plant. They are behind schedule and that would indicate shareholder dissatisfaction. The worse part is that I haven't seen the bottom yet. I will add once that seems to be the trend. GLTU. EOR
A PR would certainly get us back up.imo

[morongobill]

Orbite Aluminae, the wild ride continues.

http://heavyreenews.com/?p=176

[morongobill]

I have heard of lesser things forcing slowdowns or shut downs in construction so I am not surprised to hear that.

do you think tomorrow will be a huge day up or down with this stock?

[nagoya1]

FWIW, I heard a rumor that the plant that they built near Montreal, Quebec, Canada had a paint problem, they used the wrong type of paint, and this is the reason why they are a little behind schedule because of that mishap. EORBF

[morongobill]

Orbite Aluminae, something big may happen with this stock tomorrow.
I can feel it in my checkbook.

http://heavyreenews.com/?p=173

[morongobill]

Of possible interest to the group, as I mention QRM and EORBF in this post which is entitled"A surefire way to make money with rare earths, just stay one step ahead of the authorities." It can be read:

http://heavyreenews.com/?p=171

I mean no disrespect in this post to investors in or the management of Orbite,the company is only mentioned in my disclosure at the end of the post.

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - Orbite Begins Shipping Commercial Samples of High-Purity Alumina

http://www.orbitealuminae.com/en/news/press-releases/orbite-begins-shipping-commercial-samples-high-purity-alumina/

[nagoya1]

We should expect some higher volume after the presentation,imo
EORB

[Tommy]

$EORBF - $ORT.TO - Orbite Presenting at Miami Bauxite & Alumina Conference, Hong Kong Mines and Money Conference, and Roth Capital Conference

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/orbite-presenting-miami-bauxite-alumina-conference-hong-kong-mines-money-conference-tsx-ort-1767697.htm


... "MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - March 13, 2013) - Orbite Aluminae Inc. (TSX:ORT)(OTCQX:EORBF) ("Orbite" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its participation in the following upcoming international conferences:

Orbite and Veolia at the Miami Bauxite & Alumina Conference

Orbite and Veolia will be attending and presenting at the 19th Bauxite & Alumina Conference, which is being held from March 13th to March 15th, 2013 in Miami, USA, at the Conrad Miami Hilton. The partners invite attendees to visit the joint Orbite-Veolia Environmental Services ("Veolia") booth and attend the presentation to be given by Denis Primeau, Eng., Orbite's Chief Engineer on March 14th at 12:45pm." ...