Astral Resources (AAR:AU) has announced Theia Grade Control Confirms Geological Interpretation
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As scrutiny continues to intensify across the battery metals supply chain, the conversation around sustainability has moved far beyond carbon footprints.
At this year’s Benchmark Week, Stefan Debruyne, director of external affairs at Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM) (NYSE:SQM), made that point unmistakably clear: sustainability in lithium is as much about people, process and transparency as it is about emissions — and it must be learned, not imposed.
SQM, one of the world’s largest lithium producers, has long been at the center of debates about extraction in Chile’s Salar de Atacama. But for Debruyne, the company’s vision of leadership goes beyond scale.
“We approach leadership in a holistic way,” he said. “It’s not only about having trust to produce and being able to deliver the quality the market needs, but also doing it in a responsible way — dialogue, working closely with stakeholders and civil society. We work very hard on all components.”
Much of Debruyne’s role over the past five years has centered on improving engagement with Indigenous communities, many of which have deep historical grievances tied to land, water and the impact of large-scale resource extraction.
“It’s really about being the best neighbor possible,” he said.
But getting there has required fundamental shifts in mindset and method. One of the clearest examples is what Debruyne called the principle of horizontality — a change born from early missteps.
A decade ago, when communities questioned the mine’s hydrological impacts, SQM responded the way many industrial operators would: it sent engineers to explain the technical data.
“You would think that’s a great thing to do,” Debruyne said. “But we learned that’s not the right way, because community members aren’t hydrologists. There’s a vertical difference.”
Instead, SQM now helps communities secure independent experts of their choosing, ensuring conversations happen “on a horizontal level.” This shift has been crucial to rebuilding trust.
Just as important, Debruyne said, is abandoning the western notion of time.
“Communities have a different concept of time. It’s about giving them the time they need — taking information back, returning, iterating. You may think you’re doing things the right way, but there’s always room for improvement.”
For Oxfam policy advisor Andrew Bogrand, these types of changes are not just ethical — they’re also practical.
The expert, who also spoke on the panel, noted that since 2010, more than 800 protests or violent incidents have occurred around mine sites globally, including 300 since 2021 alone.
Each one carries real costs: slowdowns, legal expenses, rising insurance premiums — and, as Bogrand pointed out, the hidden cost of executive time diverted to crisis management.
“There is a win-win solution,” he told the Benchmark Week audience. “It’s engaging communities, making sure everyone’s on the same page. Sometimes the solutions are very simple.”
As an example, he pointed to mining projects where warning messages were sent in English to communities that do not speak the language, or where key safety information was delivered over SMS when what residents needed was a physical noticeboard in their own dialect.
Bogrand described companies that “step over a dollar to pick up a penny” — refusing modest community requests, only to face shutdowns costing tens of millions of dollars.
Debruyne described transparency as one of SQM’s most effective tools, even if it initially felt counterintuitive.
A few years ago, the company made all hydrological data from its government reporting publicly accessible online.
“I was bracing myself,” he said, expecting to receive dozens of questions about brine levels. But counter to his fears, transparency defused tension rather than fueling it. “I received complete silence,’ Debruyne noted.
It also created a foundation for future collaboration, including joint environmental monitoring programs with communities that had refused to speak with SQM for years.
The tension between rapid industry growth and slow, iterative sustainability processes often surfaces in investor discussions. For Bogrand, the answer is simple: “You have to move slow to move fast.”
Rushing early stage engagement almost always backfires, he argued, while early investment in community relationships pays dividends across the life of a mine.
Debruyne echoed this idea, noting that patience, consistency and presence — not promises — win trust. In one case, SQM organized a visit for Atacama Indigenous women leaders to electric vehicle and battery plants in Germany and Poland, allowing them to see firsthand where lithium fits in a finished product.
One participant, surprised that the metal formed only a thin coating on a cathode, admitted she had imagined an “Avatar-like” scenario where mines destroyed massive volumes of land for each battery.
“Because they don’t have visibility on the value chain, they make interpretations, which is human,” Debruyne told listeners. “Dialogue is so important.”
Both Debruyne and Bogrand agree that the lithium supply chain cannot scale without social acceptance, credible transparency and deep engagement with affected communities.
As Debruyne noted, “Ultimately, it’s about people.”
Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Humanoid robotics is rapidly advancing.
Driven by the convergence of technological innovation, evolving labor market demands and growing investor interest, the humanoid robotics industry is expanding at a rapid rate. A handful of humanoid robotics companies have announced initial public offerings in 2025, such as China’s Unitree and Singapore’s Otsaw, with more predicted in 2026.
Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood said in October that humanoid robots “will be the biggest of all” artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities, highlighting their potential in transportation, healthcare and productivity enhancement.
Samimi discussed the impact AI integration has had on the robotics industry, challenges such as labor shortages and supply chain disruptions and how the firm evaluates opportunities within this nascent yet promising market.
According to Samimi, recent trends in robotics include enhanced automation in the industrial and logistics sectors.
“We’re seeing a lot of new trends on foundation models and control stacks within the robotic sector, as well as new sorts of electronic assemblies to put all of these components together,” he explained, pointing to companies like Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), BMW (ETR:BMW,OTC Pink:BMWKY) and Mercedes-Benz Group (ETR:MBG,OTC Pink:MBGAF) as current adopters of humanoid robots in factories and warehouses.
Additionally, Samimi highlighted that recent battery advances have improved energy density, enabling longer robot operation for industrial and logistics tasks. Meanwhile, lighter, more efficient actuators enhance precision and energy use, supporting dynamic interaction and human collaboration.
Finally, advances in robotics control systems are powered by cutting-edge AI algorithms. Platforms like RideScan, a Humanoid Global portfolio company, harness continuous, independent AI-driven monitoring, risk scoring and anomaly detection to optimize robot performance. The company recently filed a patent in the UK for its core AI technology
Samimi added that safety and reliability remain critical focal points amid these technological advances.
Advances in algorithms, machine learning and operational intelligence systems are enabling comprehensive, scalable safety and maintenance solutions for robots deployed across different facilities, supported by digital twin technologies and a closed-loop data cycle for continuous improvement.
Labor shortages and constrained supply chains are accelerating innovation by prompting industrial sectors to adopt robotics to augment limited labor resources.
The 2025 MHI Annual Industry Report, a document that covers emerging disruptive technologies, confirms robotics is thriving amid labor shortages and rising complexity in logistics and manufacturing.
During the US-Saudi Investment Forum, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk made a bold prediction about the long-term effects of robotics and AI: work will become optional, and money will be obsolete.
“I don’t know what long term is — maybe it’s 10, 20 years or something like that,” Musk said, adding that there is still a lot of work to be done before society gets to that point.
In the meantime, the workforce will likely see more human-robot collaboration. Samimi said he has observed that humanoid robots and collaborative robots (cobots) are increasingly taking over repetitive manual tasks.
“Human labor now shifts to more, higher-value tasks, rather than moving a warehouse box or a palette from A to B. So we’re seeing somewhat of a shift (that’s) helping make labor more scalable and more productive, and really less dependent on that shrinking labor pool,” he said.
Resource-heavy and industrial sectors present strong opportunities for robotics, especially amid a limited labor pool. Areas like agriculture, mining, pharmaceuticals and lumber stand to benefit from automation and upskilling via robotics.
Humanoid Global views its role not only as an investor, but also as an ecosystem builder, actively fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across its portfolio companies.
By strategically connecting early stage innovators with mature industry players, Humanoid Global seeks to accelerate the global deployment and scale of humanoid robotics technologies.
The firm emphasizes balancing risk across a portfolio that includes both disruptive technology developers and companies closer to full commercial deployment, allowing for diversified exposure while driving integrated growth.
Companies are evaluated with a strong prioritization for teams with proven execution capabilities and sustainable technological moats, such as proprietary IP or unique data networks. Scalability and clear go-to-market strategies are equally important, as is a strong safety architecture embedded in the technology.
This approach highlights the importance of strategic relationships, market education and risk-managed growth in realizing the transformative potential of humanoid robotics.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Key Highlights
– 183km2 of new tenure secured, expanding Basin’s district-scale Sybella-Barkly REE-uranium footprint to 6,140km2.
– Additional landholding considered prospective for clay-hosted REE and paleochannel uranium, supported by historic AEM and geochemical anomalies.
– Conduct and compensation agreement now finalised for Ardmore Station, allowing exploration access for the next 12 months.
– Initial sediment-hosted REE drilling ongoing, with ~3,000m planned in Q4 2025.
– Multiple district-scale targets ready for systematic drilling.
The Company has successfully secured an application for Exploration Permit for Minerals (‘EPM’) 29333, which will add 183 km2 of highly prospective ground to the Project (refer to figure 1*). This increases the Sybella-Barkly landholding to 6,140 km2, strengthening Basin’s position over key sediment-hosted REE and uranium target corridors. The application is expected to take around months to progress to grant.
Basin has also finalised a conduct and compensation agreement covering work for the next 12 months at Ardmore Station, a critical milestone enabling the Company to continue with its exploration program.
Managing Director, Pete Moorhouse commented:
‘With drilling well underway at the first of our three district-scale targets for REE and uranium at this exceptionally prospective project, we are happy to expand our land position through the application of an additional exploration permit. Our Company’s drill program has been progressing well to date, and I have been on site for the last week, personally overseeing the progress. The team is doing a tremendous job and I am very excited for the results of the assays in the coming months.’
Sediment Hosted Potential
The additional application is deemed prospective for sediment-hosted targets for uranium and REE within the Barkly Tablelands. The Barkly Tablelands, refer to figure 4*, were surveyed with airborne electromagnetics (‘AEM’) by Summit Resources in February 2007 prior to its acquisition by Paladin Energy Limited (ASX:PDN). Whilst numerous targets were identified, no drilling was completed at the time. Current drainage patterns data indicate that the sediments forming the Barkly Tablelands are sourced from the Sybella Batholith. Basin is currently conducting the maiden drilling of this area to target uranium and REE potential, with approximately 3,000 metres expected to be drilled in Q4 2025.
Sediment and Ionic Clay Hosted REE Potential – District Scale Target
Results of surface geochemistry samples indicate significant mobilisation of rare earth elements into the Barkly Tablelands from the Sybella Batholith, which hosts Red Metal’s Sybella Discovery. Surface sediment samples form a regionally significant anomaly, refer to figure 4*. The highest of these values are within catchments draining from the Sybella discovery.
The Summit Resources AEM survey not only outlines an interpreted extensive paleochannel network but also highlights a conductive layer within the Barkly Tablelands sediment package directly beneath this geochemical anomaly, approximately 12 metres thick from 20 to 32 metres depth with a footprint of over 1,000 km2. This conductive layer could represent a clay unit, produced from the extensive weathering of the Sybella granites and is prospective for clay-hosted REE, refer to figure 5*.
Basin’s initial drilling is targeting this conductive horizon with aircore drilling. An average hole depth of approximately 35 metres is anticipated.
The Summit Resources’ AEM survey not only outlines an interpreted extensive paleochannel network but also highlights a conductive layer within the Barkly Tablelands sediment package directly beneath this geochemical anomaly, approximately 12 metres thick from 20 to 32 metres depth with a footprint of over 1,000 km2. This conductive layer could represent a clay unit, produced from the extensive weathering of the Sybella granites and is prospective for clay-hosted REE, refer to figure 4*.
Basin’s initial drilling will target this conductive horizon with aircore drilling. An average hole depth of approximately 35 metres is anticipated.
Paleochannel Roll Front Uranium Potential – District Scale Target
The Summit Resources’ AEM survey identified a stacked sequence of paleochannels within the Barkly Tablelands, fed from the Sybella Batholith, refer to figures 5 & 6*. This network is trending southerly, where no further AEM data exists.
Uranium content within the Sybella varies between the different phases of granites, as can be seen in the regional ternary radiometric image and supported by regional rock chip data, refer to figure 6*.
Academic research also indicates that these ‘hot’ granites are the source for the Valhalla uranium deposits.
Furthermore, historical drilling recorded redox fronts, sandstone channels and impermeable cap rocks, however no radiometric data was collected, and uranium was not assayed for.
Using the Sybella rocks that likely formed the source for the Valhalla deposits, Basin will target the potential for uranium to have also been mobilised from the Sybella granites, through the interpreted extensive paleochannel network, which appears to have suitable geological host characteristics.
Targeting work was completed by Summit Resources and Fugro to prioritise these interpreted channels.
Basin’s first pass aircore drilling program will look to confirm the characteristics of these interpreted channels. An initial 35 holes are proposed, with an average depth of 40 metres for a total of approximately 1,400 metres.
*To view tables and figures, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/HA1CQR9E
About Basin Energy Ltd:
Basin Energy Ltd (ASX:BSN) (OTCMKTS:BSNEF) is a green energy metals exploration and development company with an interest in three highly prospective projects positioned in the southeast corner and margins of the world-renowned Athabasca Basin in Canada and has recently acquired a significant portfolio of Green Energy Metals exploration assets located in Scandinavia.
Source:
Basin Energy Ltd
Contact:
Pete Moorhouse
Managing Director
pete.m@basinenergy.com.au
+61 7 3667 7449
Chloe Hayes
Investor and Media Relations
chloe@janemorganmanagement.com.au
+61 458619317
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The refreshed Board comprises Mr Joe Graziano as Non-Executive Chair, Mr Daniel Raihani as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer and Mr Hansjoerg Plaggemars as Non-Executive Director. Their immediate mandate is to redirect Altech’s efforts toward partnerships, capital mobilisation, and disciplined project execution across its two advanced technology platforms: CERENERGY(R) and Silumina Anodes(TM).
Background to Leadership Change
The change in management follows a determination by the Company’s largest shareholder that the previous strategy was unlikely to achieve commercial outcomes in an acceptable timeframe. Specifically, the Board identified insufficient progress in achieving project financing for the CERENERGY(R) Sodium Chloride Solid State (SCSS) Battery Project and the Silumina Anodes(TM) Battery Materials Project, despite advanced feasibility work and strong underlying technical validation as previously disclosed in the 2025 Annual Report.
The Board has also resolved to reassess the strategic rationale and economic merit of the Company’s distribution arrangement for AMPower sodium-nickel-chloride UPS batteries, including the level of capital and management attention required. While AMPower technology provides near-term revenue optionality, the Board considers a focused capital allocation model essential.
Daniel Raihani, CEO and Managing Director stated:
‘Altech possesses two genuinely world-class technologies in CERENERGY(R) and Silumina Anodes(TM), and it is imperative that we now take the actions required to ensure these assets reach their full commercial potential. The reality is that these projects demand disciplined execution, robust partnerships and a level of financial and technical resourcing that cannot be delivered through incremental steps or half-measures.
‘This strategic reset is necessary. It reflects an honest appraisal of where the Company stands today and what is required to move forward with credibility. We must focus our capital, sharpen our priorities, and align Altech with partners capable of advancing large-scale industrial technology.
‘I will have the Company focused to rapidly find partners to allow commercialisation of these technologies, as I believe both require larger partners to be successful. I will communicate directly and honestly the outcome of these efforts as soon as they become available.’
Refocused Strategic Priorities
The Board’s immediate focus is on accelerating commercialisation pathways, centred on: 1. Strategic Partnering for CERENERGY(R) and Silumina Anodes(TM)
Both projects are technically advanced, with:
– A completed DFS for the 120 MWh CERENERGY(R) plant in Saxony, Germany;
– Independent ‘Dark Green’ sustainability classification by S&P Global (significantly lower lifecycle emissions than lithium-ion);
– Strong safety validation including extreme-condition testing;
– A fully constructed Silumina Anodes(TM) pilot plant producing high-purity alumina-coated silicon anode material; and
– Demonstrated battery performance breakthroughs (e.g. 30-55% higher energy density compared to graphite-only anodes).
The Board considers these high-value assets well suited to collaborative development models involving established battery manufacturers, industrial technology groups, chemicals producers or governmentsupported programs. The top priority is to secure one or more qualified strategic partners who can contribute capital, technical resources and market access to advance both projects into commercial reality.
2. Progressing Access to EUR46.7 million STARK Grant Funding
The Company’s CERENERGY(R) project is identified as eligible for up to EUR46.7 million in grant support under the German STARK program. Accessing this funding requires confirmation of full project financing. The Board will prioritise the workstreams required to unlock this government support package.
3. Portfolio Rationalisation and Asset Monetisation
The new Board has initiated a strategic review of Altech’s non-core assets and business activities, including:
– The Meckering kaolin Resource;
– The Johor (Malaysia) industrial landholding; and
– All ancillary corporate structures and cost centres.
The objective is to streamline the corporate footprint, reduce expenditure and realise value from assets not essential to the commercialisation of CERENERGY(R) and Silumina Anodes(TM).
4. Cost Structure Review
A full cost review is underway to align the organisation with Altech’s revised strategic path, ensuring capital is deployed efficiently and operational overheads reflect the Company’s priorities.
Managing Director Employment Terms
Under his agreement, Mr Raihani will receive:
– A fixed fee of $134,000 per annum, based on two working days per week; and
– A rate of $2,000 per day for each additional day worked over and above the two days per week.
– These remuneration terms reflect the Company’s transitional phase and the immediate strategic priorities.
About Altech Batteries Ltd:
Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS (‘Fraunhofer’) to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY(R) Sodium Alumina Solid State (SAS) Battery. CERENERGY(R) batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY(R) batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.
The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY(R) battery, with plans to construct a 100MWh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce CERENERGY(R) battery modules to provide grid storage solutions to the market.
Source:
Altech Batteries Ltd
Contact:
Daniel Raihani
Managing Director
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com
Martin Stein
Chief Financial Officer
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com
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Why ADRs benefit Locksley and the Market
The establishment of an ADR program represents a significant step forward in Locksley’s global capital markets positioning, moving beyond the perception of an ASX microcap and into a structure trusted by major global institutions.
An ADR is a U.S dollar-denominated trading instrument that allows U.S. investors to gain exposure to non-US companies without the need for cross-border or cross-currency complexities. Importantly, the establishment of the ADR program is not a new offer of securities, therefore no additional shares will be issued or any capital raised.
Key benefits include:
– Institutional Accessibility: Many U.S. funds are restricted from investing directly in ASXlisted small caps. A U.S.-traded ADR opens access to tier-one U.S. institutions, wealth managers, and ETFs that otherwise cannot participate.
– Credibility and Perception Uplift: Partnering with BNY Mellon is widely regarded as a strong indicator of governance quality and market standing
– Liquidity & Marketability: ADRs trade in U.S. dollars during U.S. market hours, improving visibility, liquidity and ease of settlement for U.S investors
– Peer Alignment: ADRs are already used by leading Australian and global resources companies, placing Locksley alongside a well-recognised peer group
– Future Capital Pathway: The ADR framework establishes early infrastructure for potential future U.S exchange listings and builds a trading history with U.S Investors
Background on BNY Mellon
– BNY is the world’s largest provider of depositary receipt services, with a 41% global market share and a 68% share in Australia. The firm acts as depositary for 12 of the 14 Australian companies currently listed on Nasdaq and provides depositary services to over 90% of Fortune 100 companies worldwide
– BNY’s dedicated Depositary Receipts platform provides issuers with a full suite of services, including investor relations advisory, U.S. capital markets connectivity, dividend and proxy management, and access to the largest team of DR specialists in the market
Precedent Companies
Many Australian and global companies utilise ADR programs as part of their U.S. investor engagement strategies, including BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals, QBE, Telstra, and CSL. Locksley’s ADR program will provide U.S. investors with streamlined access to the Company’s Mojave Critical Minerals Project in California, a project strongly aligned with U.S. government and defence supply chain priorities. The program will enhance Locksley’s visibility among U.S. institutions, funds and retail investors seeking exposure to critical minerals.
Kerrie Matthews, Locksley CEO commented:
‘Progressing with The Bank of New York Mellon to establish an ADR program represents another important step in Locksley’s U.S. capital markets strategy. Since commencing as CEO, I have focused on positioning Locksley not just as another Australian junior, but as a company of global strategic importance.’ ‘The ADR program enables U.S. institutions and investors to participate in our vision to deliver a 100% U.S. Mine to Market antimony solution. This uplifts our profile, expands our investor reach and sets the stage for long term capital pathways as we fast-track Mojave’s development.’
About Locksley Resources Limited:
Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across two key assets: the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development in this highly prospective mineral region.
Mojave Project
Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 250 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block/Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials’ claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area.
In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic ‘Desert Antimony Mine’, which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With significant surface sample results, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S.
Locksley’s North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security.
Tottenham Project
Locksley’s Australian portfolio comprises the advanced Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, focused on VMS-style mineralisation
Source:
Locksley Resources Limited
Contact:
Kerrie Matthews
Chief Executive Officer
Locksley Resources Limited
T: +61 8 9481 0389
Kerrie@locksleyresources.com.au
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Trading in the securities of Corazon Mining Limited (‘CZN’) will be halted at the request of CZN, pending the release of an announcement by CZN.
Unless ASX decides otherwise, the securities will remain in trading halt until the earlier of:
CZN’s request for a trading halt is attached below for the information of the market.
Issued by
ASX Compliance
Click here for the full ASX Release
