Interview with Paul Barrett, CEO of Pathfinder Minerals/Rome Resources
Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/rome-resources-aimrmr-tin-copper-exploration-shows-early-promise-6088
Recording date: 30th October 2024
Rome Resources, a junior exploration company operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), presents a compelling investment opportunity with its high-grade tin assets and experienced management team. The company's flagship projects, Kalayi and Mont Agoma are poised to capitalize on the growing demand for tin, a critical metal with limited investment opportunities.
Kalayi, a pure play tin project, boasts some of the highest grade mineralization globally, with near-surface tin providing the potential for low capex, pilot-scale production. Mont Agoma, a polymetallic system containing tin, copper, and zinc sulfides, could be a company-maker with its significant scale and exploration upside. CEO Paul Barrett emphasized, "From what we're seeing, it could well be the much bigger prize in terms of the two projects."
Rome Resources is led by a management team with a track record of successfully advancing and monetizing projects in the DRC. The company's model involves taking assets from discovery through to Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) level before crystallizing value for shareholders. With the recent appointment of Klaus Eckhof, who brings over two decades of in-country expertise, Rome Resources is well-positioned to navigate the operating environment and unlock the value of its assets.
Despite the DRC's challenging reputation, the country has seen producers like Alphamin, located just 8 kilometers from Rome Resources' projects, successfully operate, produce, and get paid without issue. As Barrett noted, "It's definitely doable in that part of the world." The tin market is experiencing growing demand driven by its essential applications in electronics, solar panels, AI, and high-tech industries. With no substitutes in many applications, tin is gaining recognition as a critical metal with significant upside potential. The International Tin Association recently highlighted a poll from LME Week showing tin "shot up" the list of critical metals expected to outperform through 2025.
Upcoming drill results and the continuation of drilling through November and December provide potential catalysts for a re-rating of Rome Resources. With a modest ~US$20 million market capitalization, the company appears undervalued relative to the scale of its assets and the potential value creation as it continues to derisk and advance its projects.
Key investment highlights include exposure to high-grade tin assets with significant resource expansion potential, an experienced management team with a track record of success, strategic optionality to pursue multiple development scenarios, and leverage to a rising tin price driven by growing demand and supply constraints.
As Rome Resources delivers drill results and continues to grow its resource base, the company is well-positioned for a re-rating. With a management team experienced in creating shareholder value and strategic optionality in a rising tin price environment, investors have the opportunity to gain exposure to a premier pure play tin opportunity with significant upside potential.
View Rome Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/rome-resources
Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com
What is Company Interviews?
An insight into junior mining and opportunities to invest.
Company Interviews, a Crux Investor show, exists to cut through the jargon, bias and bluster.
Matthew Gordon, and guest host Merlin Marr-Johnson hone in on the important factors that indicate a company's strong footing for growth and success.