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___________________________________________________________________ Eco Investor Update A Weekly News Update for Environmental Investors 19
September 2011 - No 49 ASX 100 AGL Energy APA Group - Managing director Michael McCormack picked up another 7,871 securities for $30,539; - John Fletcher acquired another 1,352 securities directly and 451 indirectly for $5,245 and $1,749 respectively; - Leonard Bleasel picked up another 8,320 securities directly and 435 indirectly for $32,281 and $1,687 respectively; - Robert Wright indirectly acquired 1,572 securities for $6,099; - Russell Higgins directly acquired 554 securities and indirectly acquired 3,114 securities for $2,149 and $12,082 respectively. (ASX: APA) DUET Group The hedged net sale proceeds of $345 million will be applied to retire DUET's corporate bridge facility. Together with the recent pay down of the outstanding balance on its corporate revolver facility, DUET will have no corporate level debt. David Bartholomew, DUET's chief executive officer, said: "The finalization of the sale of our stake in Duquesne is another important step in simplifying and strengthening DUET's portfolio and capital structure. The Group has significantly reduced its gearing levels and we will now focus on our three Australian based regulated utility businesses." (ASX: DUE) ASX 200 Lynas Corporation These show some outstanding intersections, it said, including rare earth oxide (REO) levels up to 20.9 per cent. May are in the 10 to 15 per cent range. The drilling program is aimed at delineating the rare earth oxide (REO) resource to at least an Indicated status, and to enable Lynas to assess whether to include the western side of the Central Lanthanide Deposit into the mine planning process, and thereby upgrade the Reserves of the ore-body. "The tenure of these results gives confidence of a likely increase in the ore reserves towards the end of the year, as well as a modification to the ultimate pit design," said Lynas. Some early assay results for the southern-most holes were announced in the June 2011 Quarterly Report. The complete set of assays covers all 154 holes and 9,604 metres of drilling. New modeling, metallurgical test work and mine planning will be carried out on the area defined by the drilling. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has lowered its interest in Lynas from 8.97 to 7.85 per cent. (ASX: LYC) Qube Logistics The new director is Ross Burney, the chief executive of Taverners Group, one of Qube's largest shareholders. Mr Burney has 20 years of experience as an accountant and investment manager, having previously worked for BDO Chartered Accountants, Brierley Investments Limited and Guinness Peat Group. He was previously a member of Qube's Investment Advisory Committee and is currently on the board of Customers Limited, Oncard International and recently retired as a director of MSF Sugar. The final dividend takes the total fully franked dividend/ distributions for 2010-11 to 3.8 cents per security, an increase on the prior year of 8.6 per cent. Qube said the increased dividend per security is on a significantly expanded capital base, which has been possible due to the strong financial results achieved in the period. Perpetual has ceased to be a substantial shareholder. TC Group Infrastructure has become a substantial shareholder with 11.4 per cent, Kawasaki Australia has become a substantial shareholder with 9 per cent, as has Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding with 10.97 per cent. Taverners holding has reduced from 11.6 to 8.3 per cent. (ASX: QUB) ASX 300 Ceramic Fuel Cells The selection panel said that Ceramic Fuel Cells has demonstrated determined innovation since its inception in 1992. It has invested over $250 million in R&D towards the development of an innovative fuel cell technology that delivers power and heat to households in a very efficient manner. It has developed strong commercial relationships with some of the largest utility companies in Europe." This award follows several other recent awards for the company and its BlueGen product in Germany, UK and Australia, including the 2011 DuPont Australia and New Zealand Innovation Award. (ASX: CFU) Galaxy Resources The study and farm-in are part of a 2010 Memorandum of Understanding with Canada's Lithium One Inc. Galaxy acquired an initial 20 per cent equity interest in James Bay for C$3 million and had the potential to earn 70 per cent through funding and completing the DFS within 24 months. The James Bay project is an extensive, surface level, high-grade spodumene pegmatite deposit with the potential to significantly add to Galaxy's resource base and lithium supply. The project will incorporate a mine, processing plant and battery-grade lithium carbonate plant. Galaxy has appointed Montreal engineering services consultancy Genivar Inc. to manage the DFS. Genivar is one of Canada's largest engineering services firms and has extensive experience in the James Bay area, it said. Managing director, Iggy Tan, said Galaxy's lithium project development expertise would enable Galaxy to accelerate the development of the James Bay project. "Galaxy wants to extend its lithium resource base and James Bay's location, geology and the low cost of entry were the key attractive aspects of the farm-in agreement with Lithium One. Galaxy expects to be able to fast track the development of James Bay by using similar capacity and design as the plants constructed at Mt Cattlin and Jiangsu," he said. Mining engineering firm DRA Americas Inc. is working on the James Bay processing plant design component of the DFS. The design of the plant's crushing and heavy media separation concentrator will be modeled on Galaxy's Mt Cattlin plant in Western Australia, with expected capacity to process 1 million tonnes of ore per annum. The James Bay project will also include a battery-grade lithium carbonate plant. The DFS will assess whether the most suitable location is Quebec or in China next to Galaxy's existing Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate facility. Galaxy said the lithium carbonate plant design would mirror the design of the Jiangsu plant, with production of 17,000 tonnes per annum of battery grade lithium carbonate. Similarly, the design will incorporate a purification circuit, allowing production of grades above 99.5 per cent lithium carbonate. This component of the DFS will be undertaken by Hatch Engineering, Galaxy's existing EPCM contractor for the Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant. Galaxy said the location of a bulk sample test pit had also been selected. Approximately 50 tonnes of pegmatite will be extracted for crushing and heavy media test work. (ASX: GXY) Infigen Energy On 14 September Infigen's shares hit an all time low of 20.5 cents. (ASX: IFN) Emerging Companies ERM Power Gale Pacific Novarise Renewable Resources
International S-Green is the marketing arm of Novarise to develop and market finished recycled PP products. It currently has about 40 products including various bags, slippers, and apparels under its brands that include 'S-Green' and ‘G-World'. Its office is in the port city of Xiamen, Fujian, about 60 kilometres from Quanzhou. It has 30 employees, 10 of whom are involved in product development, and its sales and marketing team is experienced in domestic and international markets. S-Green is looking at expanding sales in Australia and into Southeast Asia this year and is seeking partnering and alliance opportunities. Sales should begin this calendar year, and the sales should improve Novarise's overall profit margins. Novarise said S-Green completes its value chain proposition by marketing finished recycled PP products, raising consumer awareness on recycling of PP finished products, and generating sales and recovery of post-consumer PP feedstock for Novarise. Novarise said that the production facility under Phase 1 of new Nan'an facility is nearing completion and installation of production facilities is due to be completed in October. Initial trial production is also expected to take place in October. The staff accommodation block and administration block will be completed subsequently. Production at the existing Quanzhou facility will continue until the Nan'an production facility is operating smoothly. The relocation move is expected to be staggered over 2012. When completed, the Nan'an facility will be the largest fully integrated yarn-grade PP recycling facility in the world with the annual production capacity of 75,000 tonnes. Novarise will retain the Quanzhou facility and is considering various options including using it as value-adding centre to manufacture finished PP products or as a warehouse for PP feedstock. Chairman and managing director Qingyue Su has another acquired 783,000 shares at 19, 20 and 20.5 cents each. (ASX: NOE) Micro Cap Companies AnaeCo Carnegie Wave Energy Testing included underwater noise monitoring and its impacts on marine fauna, and underwater fauna monitoring using baited and unbaited video cameras. This was analyzed to assess marine fauna present and interactions with the CETO unit. 27 fauna species were recorded. Carnegie said both studies identified no significant environmental impacts from the presence and operation of CETO, and insight into ways of further reducing or eliminating potential environmental impact. It found an array of CETO units has the potential to create an artificial reef habitat that increases biodiversity, said the company. Carnegie is now focussed on further development of CETO and on the design and construction of the grid connected Perth Wave Energy Project. Carnegie will continue its environmental monitoring and assessment and consultation program to support its application for environmental approvals for the project. (ASX: CWE) Cell Aquaculture Dyesol EcoQuest Chairman Sylvia Tulloch has indirectly acquired 125,00 shares on market for 2.5 cents each and another 20,000 shares at 2.9 cents each. (ASX: ECQ) Eden Energy The plan is to spinout its UK coal seam methane/ shale gas subsidiary, Eden Energy (UK) Ltd into a new ASX listing called Adamo Energy Ltd. However, this will not happen immediately but when market conditions are suitable. The UK assets are a 2,100 square kilometres landholding in South Wales, Bristol and Kent, and a 50 per cent interest in 17 licences and a 100 per cent interest in three licences. Eden holds 50 per cent of an independently reported shale gas unrisked prospective mean resources GIIP for part of the licence area of 49.8 trillion cubic feet (tcf) or 24.9 tcf. Eden UK has agreed to buy back the 45 per cent interest in the coal seam methane rights in two licences that it sold in 2008 and to acquire a 100 per cent interest in three additional licences in south Wales and complete its remaining farm-in obligations in the original joint ventures. Eden Energy's shareholders will be offered a priority entitlement via prospectus. (ASX: EDE) Enerji The placement comprised 20,950,000 shares at 2 cents each and 10,475,000 listed options with an exercise price of 3 cents and expiring 30 June 2015. (ASX: ERJ) Green Invest Greenearth Energy The proceeds will be used for the Zenith Solar Demonstration, to obtain a 20 per cent equity interest in the new biomass investment, to establish logistics capability and inventory stock levels of the Metrolight Smart HID Products It will also be used to continue work on the company's domestic geothermal permits including planning and site preparation for the Geelong Geothermal Power Project (GGPP) and an Emerging Renewables application for both the GGPP and the Latrobe Valley Interpretation projects. The offer is not underwritten. Meanwhile, Greenearth Energy subsidiary, Pacific Heat and Power Pty Ltd, has sold two PureCycle Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Turbines. The sale was to Service Engineers Ltd, a New Zealand partner that recently won a turnkey contract for capturing waste heat from diesel engines owned by the American Samoa Power Authority. The PureCycle ORC Turbine application will result in an additional 300 kWe net, baseload, zero emissions power for American Samoa. American Samoa, like most of its neighbours in the Pacific Rim, has a high dependency on diesel fuel for its primary power. Greenearth Energy said that despite the relatively small scale of many of the Pacific Island generators, pre-engineered systems reduce the cost of implementing small scale waste heat recovery projects, allowing communities to reduce generation costs and emission levels. The collaboration between PHP, Service Engineers and Pratt & Whitney Power Systems has provided the American Samoa Power Authority with an attractively priced diesel waste-to-clean energy total solution, said Greenearth Energy. Managing director Mark Miller said commissioning of the project should be in the first half of 2012. "As the first diesel waste heat-to-energy project using ORC technology in the Pacific Islands, we believe this will drive awareness and ultimately sales of this savvy technology." (ASX: GER) Hydrotech International Established in 1925, the American Club is a Members Only social club with properties in the heart of the Hong Kong CBD and a clubhouse with full recreational facilities on the island's south side. The contract is to waterproof the Club's tennis courts and surrounds, and was awarded following a successful application by Hydrotech recently to another part of the Club. (ASX: HTI) Lithex Resources Mr Koncepolski has 31 years of experience in marketing, corporate management and investment management. In the past 11 years, his main focus has been coordinating investment syndicates entering early stage mining exploration and development projects and participating in a range of corporate transactions. Lithex said Mr Koncepolski
has a strong network of high net worth individuals in Melbourne, Sydney,
Switzerland and New York, and has facilitated a range of strategic investments
in Mission NewEnergy "The Series One convertible notes represented a $15 million liability due in May 2012. Due to the early repayment Mission has settled the debt at a substantial A$10 million discount," said Nathan Mahalingam, the Group' s chief executive officer. Post transaction, Mission has $12.8 million in cash and cash equivalents. Mission has also announced the in-house development of an improved palm oil supply chain process called "Mission g-Palm" that maximizes green house gas savings when producing g-Palm Biodiesel. Mission said it has petitioned the US Environmental Protection Agency for approval to sell the enhanced g-Palm oil based biodiesel in the US. "The use of Mission's g-Palm biodiesel has already been welcomed in major European markets after demonstrating to regulatory authorities that it meets EU sustainability requirements." said the company. "The g-Palm Oil Biodiesel reduces green house gas throughout the entire supply chain including production, milling and refining processes." (ASX: MBT) Petratherm The extension is due to the pending flow test at the Paralana 2 well which is expected to be completed late September or early October. Early findings from the flow test should be released soon after the completion of the operation. Funds from the raising will be used for preparatory work such as to design the well, secure long lead time plant items and to secure a drilling rig slot for the Paralana 3 well at the company's flagship Paralana project in South Australia, and for working capital. The flow test aims to measure the flow deliverability potential of the brine fluids at depth, fluid temperature, and brine fluid chemistry. This is the first time at which extracted geothermal energy (hot fluid) will be brought to the surface at Paralana, an important milestone towards production of geothermal power, said managing director, Terry Kallis. Petratherm director Richard Bonython has indirectly sold 77,146 shares for $7,621. The average price was 9.9 cents. (ASX: PTR) Torrens Energy International Companies Ocean Power Technologies Lockheed Martin will provide design, manufacturing, system integration and supply chain management expertise to enhance OPT's PowerBuoy technology. OPT said this builds on previous work conducted by Lockheed Martin and OPT. The collaboration follows a US$2.4 million contract awarded by the US Department of Energy to OPT as part of initiatives announced in September 2010 to promote the development of renewable marine energy. Construction of the Oregon PB150 PowerBuoy's steel structure has been completed, and testing of the advanced power take-off and control system is in process at OPT's production facility in a test environment simulating the varying wave conditions off the Oregon coast. Assembly, systems integration, and land testing of the PowerBuoy is planned to occur over the next several months. It is intended to be the first of a proposed 10-buoy wave power station with a peak generating capacity of 1.5 MW, equivalent to the power needs of about 1,500 homes. "OPT's engineering and innovation efforts for the utility market are focused on improving power conversion efficiency, reliability, manufacturability and lowering the costs of marine operations and maintenance," said Charles F. Dunleavy, chief executive officer of OPT. "We will be rolling out the PB150 PowerBuoy product, our latest utility market offering, over the next few years and will also leverage this experience for the next generation of the PowerBuoy, our 500 kW device that is currently under development. "With the Department of Energy's continued support and Lockheed Martin's expertise, the commercialization of our technologies to harness wave power continues to make steady progress," said Mr Dunleavy. (Nasdaq: OPTT) Eco Investor Update
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