Lithium company tops Deloitte report with 2000pc share increase

Near-term lithium producer Tawana Resources NL (ASX:TAW) is the biggest mover by market capitalisation of the top 100 WA-based, ASX-listed stocks in FY2017, according to Deloitte’s Diggers & Dealers 2017 edition of the WA Index.

According to the report, Tawana witnessed its market capitalisation soar from $4 million in FY2016 to $86 million, a whopping 1915 per cent increase.

Tawana holds a 50 per cent stake in the Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum mine in Western Australia, the adjacent Cowan Lithium project, Uis project in Namibia and the Mofe Creek Iron Ore project in Liberia.

“As a growing lithium explorer and producer, Tawana has enjoyed tremendous growth during the year, riding the trend of strengthening lithium prices. It is an attractive asset for investors as Tawana’s flagship Bald Hill project progresses towards production which is forecast for late 2017,” the report said.

Looking ahead, Deloitte expects further exploration to be carried out on existing projects such as Uis in Namibia, however the excitement growing around Tawana stems largely from the soon to be producing Bald Hill project.

“The project’s near term goals include completing construction and beginning mining works at Bald Hill by the end of 2017, with concentrate shipping planned to commence in the first quarter of 2018,” it said.

“The Bald Hill project is earmarked to be WA’s highest grade tantalum mine, and one of the top producers in the world. With low capital expenditure requirements, significant resource potential and existing long term off take arrangements, investors hold significant optimism for Bald Hill and Tawana’s growth into the future.”

Meanwhile, emerging energy play Paringa Resources Limited (ASX:PNL) increased its market capitalisation by 441 per cent from $26 million to $142 million.

Paringa is developing the Buck Creek coal mining complex, including the Poplar Grove and Cypress Mines, located in the Illinois Basin, of Western Kentucky.

According to the report, Paringa’s market capitalisation increased because of positive feasibility studies, a buoyant coal price following the US election results and the completion of capital raisings as the company prepared to begin development of the Poplar Grove mine in July 2017.

The report also noted the market capitalisation of all Western Australian-based listed stocks came in at $152.6 billion FY2017, a 13.5 per cent increase on 2016.

It said the gains were driven by global steel price increases, thanks to government infrastructure development commitments in China and the US benefitting the bulk commodity market.