What has Trump done now?

[nomadpete]

I don't usually read stuff from that source, but I was curious. I note:-

 

1. It's a loan, not a gift.

 

2. The US War Department actually has an Office for Strategic Planning! I would never have guessed that.

 

3. The US expects first option on the ptoduct.

 

4. No mention of the repayment plan.

 

5. No mention of how this mine will benefit Australia. However some wealthy backers will profit from it.

Edited 6 hours ago by nomadpete

[nomadpete]

You might have heard about USA's critical shortage of Air Traffic Controllers.

 

Fret not, the problem is solved.

 

(Air traffic controllers who are easily bored and seek instant gratification, and have a game over - restart button, yeah that'll work.)

[old man emu]

Bugger! That's only 2 hours' drive from my place. 

[nomadpete]

12 minutes ago, old man emu said:

Bugger! That's only 2 hours' drive from my place. 

But... but.... you should be grateful.

I see lots of full page ads and billboards telling me how the great mining industry invests into our communites and builds our roads!

[old man emu]

From the company's website:

The Syerston Scandium Project is located on Mining Lease 1770 (ML1770), granted by the NSW Government under the Mining Act (1992). Environmental permitting for the Project has been completed, supported by an approved Environmental Impact Statement (as modified).

 

The NSW Government has also granted the Project Development Consent, issued an Environmental Protection Licence and approved a number of Environmental Management Plans.

Water rights have been secured for the Project, providing sufficient capacity to meet the Project’s estimated water requirements.

 

ML1770 lies in close proximity to excellent infrastructure. including bitumen roads providing good access to Parkes and the east coast of Australia. The Project area is also adjacent to one of NSW’s renewable energy zones.

 

I wonder who owns the shares. They are listed as being owned by some companies, but I wonder who owns those companies.

 

https://api.investi.com.au/api/announcements/srl/861d2764-23f.pdf

[old man emu]

5 minutes ago, nomadpete said:

the great mining industry invests into our communites and builds our roads!

There ain't no community and there ain't no roads that could handle ore cartage. Just use Google Maps to see what it is like around Fifield., NSW

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifield,_New_South_Wales

[nomadpete]

But... but... 

in this case they only have a contract to supply 50 tons if metal (or is it concentrate) to the yanks.

 

I was just having a snipe at mining propaganda.

 

P.S. There was a reference to a wealthy backer, but I lost the link.

 

Re edit... found it in the ABC article:

"the project, backed by mining billionaire Robert Friedland, "

Edited 4 hours ago by nomadpete

[nomadpete]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-08/pentagon-loan-to-syerston-scandium-mine-in-nsw/107012648

[old man emu]

Looks like the water supply they want to use could be from the Lachlan River. Not a lot of water there.