That’s a wrap! Diggers & Dealers announced a record-breaking attendance of around 2800 delegates; the promise of a Kalgoorlie-Boulder City-funded roof over the event site; and, presented key company awards.
The giant exhibition marquee was transformed into a ballroom as the WesTrac Gala Dinner heralded the end of Diggers & Dealers 2024.
Pavilion promise from Kalgoorlie-Boulder City
The City committed $3.5 million to a permanent pavilion where Diggers and other events can be staged.
Diggers Chair Jim Walker said the news meant significant time and cost savings into the future, given the massive temporary marquee took about five weeks a year to erect.
Emerald named ‘Digger of the Year’
Emerald Resources NL (ASX:EMR) was named ‘Digger of the Year’ for its progress in Cambodia, where it has multiple gold projects including the Okvau mine and the Memot deposit.
The award was accepted by MD Morgan Hart and non-executive director Simon Lee.
The $2.4 billion market cap company’s on the path of becoming a multiple mine, plus-300,000 ounce per year mid-tier gold producer.
Mr Hart said thanks was due to the improved gold price… “my wish is the run will last longer than last year’s lithium run!”
Emerald Resources gained nearly 1.5% to close at $3.43 (August 7, 2024)
Azure’s $1.7b Andover stake sale named year’s best deal
The ‘Dealer of the Year’ award’ went to Azure Minerals, which sold the Andover lithium asset in the West Pilbara region of WA, to SQM and Hancock Prospecting.
MD Tony Rovira said it was 21 years since the company’s IPO and it was Western Australian mining entrepreneur Mark Creasy who’d introduced Andover to Azure four years ago, selling the company a 60% stake. Previously Azure was focussed on nickel sulphate, but ‘switched to lithium and found something quite remarkable’.
The $1.7 billion takeout of that share in the project sold to SQM and Hancock Prospecting closed in May when Azure left the ASX.
“In time everyone will see how good this project is,” Mr Rovira said.
13,000% return sees WA1 top the Emerging Company list
The ‘Emerging Company’ award for the company with the greatest potential to develop a substantial project went to WA1 Resources (ASX:WA1), which has seen a share price rise of some 13,000% since its Luni niobium discovery at its West Arunta project in WA in late 2022.
The award was received by MD Paul Savich. WA1 closed up 2.2% to $12.98 (August 7, 2024).
In other recognition, Michael Erickson, who spent more than 20 years with Anglogold Ashanti, was awarded the GJ Stokes Memorial award; ABC’s Rachel Pupazzoni received a media award; and, Shayera Allen received the Ray Finlayson Medal for leadership and academic excellence at WA School of Mines.