BCI Minerals - BCI(ASX) News & Expert Insights from Stockhead

BCI Minerals Limited (ASX:BCI) is an Australian-based company focused on developing its 100% owned Mardie Salt & Potash Project, a potential Tier 1 project located on the West Pilbara coast in the centre of Australia’s key salt production region.

Mardie aims to produce 5.35Mtpa of high-purity salt (>99.5% NaCl) and 140ktpa of sulphate of potash (SOP) (>52% K₂O) via solar evaporation of seawater. Using an inexhaustible seawater resource and a production process driven mainly by natural solar and wind energy, Mardie is a sustainable opportunity to supply the salt and potash growth markets in Asia over many decades.

With a Final Investment Decision targeted for mid-2021 and main construction start up scheduled for Q4 2021, first salt sales can be achieved by Q3 2024 and first SOP sales by Q4 2025.

In addition to the Mardie Project, BCI receives quarterly royalty earnings from Iron Valley, an iron ore mine located in the Central Pilbara region of Western Australia which is operated by Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN). BCI’s EBITDA from Iron Valley was A$37.3M for the first 9 months of FY21.

KEY PEOPLE

Brian O’Donnell | Chairman (Non-Executive)

In addition to being Chairman of BCI, Mr O’Donnell is Director, Finance and Investments for the Australian Capital Equity Pty Limited (ACE) group, which includes BCI’s largest shareholder, Wroxby Pty Ltd.

Mr O’Donnell is also a non-executive director of Bravo Holdings Pty Ltd (the holding company for Hive and Wellness Australia Pty Ltd – formerly Capilano Honey Limited), the West Australian Football Commission and The Guide Dog Foundation Pty Ltd (WA). He is a former director of Capilano Honey Limited, Iron Ore Holdings Limited, Coates Group Holdings Pty Ltd, WesTrac Pty Ltd, Landis & Gyr AG, Fremantle Football Club Ltd and YMCA of Perth Inc. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has 34 years’ experience in the finance and investment industry.

Alwyn Vorster | Managing Director

Mr Vorster commenced as Managing Director of BCI in 2016. He has more than 25 years’ experience with numerous large mining houses in technical and commercial management roles covering the total supply chain from mine to market for iron ore, coal and other minerals.

Recent roles include Group Executive Mining at Australian Capital Equity Pty Limited (ACE), Chief Executive Officer of API Management and Managing Director of Iron Ore Holdings Ltd. Mr Vorster was previously a non-executive director of Volt Resources Limited.

Simon Hodge | Chief Financial Officer

Mr Hodge commenced as Chief Financial Officer in 2017. He has more than 25 years’ experience in senior executive, corporate advisory and equity research roles.

Prior to joining BCI, Mr Hodge was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Quickflix limited, an ASX-listed company he co-founded. He has extensive finance, capital markets, corporate advisory and equity research experience having held senior positions in corporate advisory with Poynton and Partners and in equity research with JP Morgan (London) and a major Australian stockbroker.

Sam Bennett | Project Director

Mr Bennett commenced as Project Director in November 2020 and is responsible for all activities relating to the execution of the Mardie Salt & Potash Project. He has more than 20 years’ experience leading major infrastructure projects in the UK, Singapore, Indonesia, the UAE and Australia.

Most recently, he worked for WSP Global as Director of Resources for Australia and other recent roles include PMC Project Director for the $10 billion Roy Hill Iron Ore Project and Project Manager on Fortescue Metals Group’s $2.4 billion T155 Rail & Port expansion.

Mr. Bennett has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Nottingham. He is a chartered civil engineer with the ICE (UK) and has project management accreditation with both the AIPM and APM (UK).