Our opinion on the current state of JUBILEE(JBL)Here is the text with paragraphs added:
Jubilee Metals Group (JBL) is a diversified metals recovery company that re-processes mine waste and surface materials. It is listed both on the London AIM market and on the JSE's Alt-X. It has operations in South Africa, the UK, Madagascar, and Australia, and it is involved in a joint venture in Zambia to produce lead, zinc, and vanadium. The company primarily produces platinum group metals (PGM) and chrome, and its primary asset is a 63% stake in the Tjate project, which is assessed to include the world's largest undeveloped block of platinum ore, with an estimated potential of 65 million ounces on the Western Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex.
However, in recent years, the company has "...pivoted towards a smelting and beneficiation strategy as a cashflow survival strategy." Jubilee is currently spending about R154 million to consolidate its PGM retreatment business by buying a reprocessing plant and some dumps. The R154 million is being used to buy a chrome processing operation and 1.8 million tons of tailings from PlatCro Minerals. It is a low-cost producer but subject to the vagaries of the platinum and base metals markets.
In its results for the year to 30th June 2024, the company reported revenue up 20.2% and chrome concentrate production up 20%. 6E PGM production decreased by 14.2%, and copper production was up 17.1%. The company said, "Group EBITDA decreased by 7.1% to US$27.7 million (FY2023: US$29.8 million), supported by increased chrome production helping partially offset the impact of the sharp decline in PGM EBITDA."
In our view, this share is probably one of the better options in the mining sector but remains highly volatile and risky. We suggest waiting for a break up through the share's long-term downward trendline. On 7th October 2024, the company announced that it had increased its stake in project "G" to 65% and that it had secured an additional 2 megawatts of power from an IPP.