Astra Resources Plc
Astra Resources Plc: Astra Resources corporate structure driven by technology opportunities and commodities growth
Astra Resources Plc / Key word(s): Market Report/Miscellaneous Astra Resources corporate structure driven by technology opportunities and commodities growth Adelaide, Australia – March 22 2012: International diversified resource company, Astra Resources (FWB Code: 9AR), says its corporate structure will help drive the company's standing as a major participant in the global market. Astra CEO Dr Jaydeep Biswas says its structure includes the key business units of technology, mining, and business diversification with risk management as a theme, all backed by its diversified project and geographic base and the continued acquisition of game-changing, commercially proven technologies. 'Our structure will allow us to become a global leader in efficient, high quality steel manufacturing and clean coal conversion technologies, and provide ongoing shareholder value creation through mining and green innovations,' Dr Biswas says. 'Our technology strategy is spearheaded by the company's T-Steel which will enable old and underperforming steel mills with low profitability to produce high margin premium grade steels without major capital expenditure. 'Cost reductions are just one of the benefits of implementing the T-Steel technology, as higher strength steel can be produced with a significant reduction in raw material use for the same application. 'We are continuously assessing well-priced opportunities to acquire steel mills in Eastern Europe which can act as a platform for conversion, production and marketing of the T-steel products, in addition to external licensing arrangements. 'In the future, the use of nano-technology in steel making is an area which may bring additional improvements to the steelmaking industry and this is something Astra is also exploring. 'We have intentionally supported T-Steel through the acquisition of a number of other technologies including the recent joint venture with Interecotech for their clean coal conversion technology.
'This pertains to the scientific process required for the manufacture of Activated Coal Water Fuel (ACWF) as direct fuel for power plants at higher efficiencies, and the gasification of coal to create hydrogen enriched Syngas for the production of diesel fuel. 'The ACWF technology is a bolt-on to existing power stations, allowing fuel diversity. This will have immediate and profound economic and logistics benefit as the coal conversion technology will help turn local low quality coal reserves into a useable product, reducing reliance on expensive imports. 'By focusing on coal-fired power plants in developing countries, savings are linked to the black-brown coal price differential and the inter-continental logistics cost from black coal mine to end user power station. 'ACWF technology will also be attractive to any country with a drive to significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions due to the resulting increase in the thermal efficiency of coal fired power stations.'
To capitalise on its technology strategy Astra has, or are in the process of, securing the supply chain of raw materials related to the production of these technologies.
'Investments in gold, copper and silver tenements assist in hedging the risk of the dollar and dollar related commodities. 'The commodity trading business cannot ignore the fact that China, India, Middle East and East Asia need agricultural products to fuel its population growth which in turn increases the demand for raw materials for steel production, premium steel and power generation technology.
'Northern Australia has some of the best growing and grazing land in the world, often referred to as the region's food bowl due to the rainfall, low population density, logistics infrastructure and close proximity to Asian markets.
'Our mission statement, a diversified global resource company with the entrepreneurial vision of a technology firm, describes our knowledge based approach, and our eye towards ancillary opportunities which complement our core focus with lower cost and quicker time to revenue.' For more information visit www.astraresources.co.uk ENDS For all media enquiries contact Bruce Nelson +61 (0) 423 403 449 (bruce@zakazuhka.com) Caitlin Petrou +61 (0) 402 823 343 (caitlin@astraresources.com.au)
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